Dwight H. Burr

A Truly Gentle Person

Dwight H. Burr died on November 5. Born September 11, 1913, he was the son of George Uriah Burr and Grace Eleanor Johnson of Newtown.

Mr Burr was a graduate of Wesleyan University, Class of 1934, and went on earn his degrees from Columbia University in 1944 and Yale University in 1954. Mr Burr spent his life teaching history and English, and coaching football, basketball, baseball, and track. He retired from Caldwell High School in New Jersey in 1975 after 40 years of teaching. He then became a substitute teacher and track coach at Wilcox Technical School, working there until 1991.

Mr Burr will be remembered as an avid sports fan and a truly gentle person who rarely spoke in anger. He was an articulate, caring, and concerned teacher with a wonderful dry sense of humor. He will be deeply missed by the many students he coached and taught, and by his many nieces and nephews.

He is survived by his sister, Elizabeth Ruscoe of Wallingford; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Madeline (Gilmore) Burr, and his brother, Howard Burr.

The funeral will be held Friday, November 9, at 10:30 am, at the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 East Main Street in Meriden, with the Rev Dr John Clarke of First Congregational Church officiating. Burial will be in Newtown Village Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 to 10:30 am on Friday, prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr Burr’s name may be sent to Meriden Humane Society, 311 Murdock Avenue, Meriden CT 06450.

The Newtown Bee        November 9, 2007