Robert William Burrill

Robert (Bob) Burrill passed away peacefully in the hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, on March 1, 2026, just as his granddaughter arrived from Connecticut to be by his side. He was 88 years old and had spent several years courageously battling lung disease and cancer.

Bob is survived by his sisters, Sandy Burrill, Donna Burrill, and Nancy Burrill; his nephew, Brian Burrill; his niece, Linda Champagne; his grandchildren, Christine Burrill and Sean Rioux; cousins, Leslie Jephson, Jean Showalter and Linda Arnold; close family friend Irene Moros; and many other friends and distant relatives. He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma (Downing) Burrill; his daughter, Dawn (Burrill) Rioux; his sister, Janice Burrill; and his brother, Thomas Burrill.

Born in Bristol, CT, on April 1, 1937, Bob was known as a bit of a troublemaker in his youth—a rebellious and mischievous nature he retained throughout his life. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1955, serving as an electronic navigation equipment repairman at Andrews Air Force Base. It was in Maryland that he met Norma; the two were married in 1959. Several years later, they moved to Connecticut with their daughter, Dawn. Bob and Norma also raised their granddaughter, Christine, and took great pride in seeing her through to her college graduation.

Bob spent most of his post-military career as a truck driver. He loved telling harrowing stories about his time behind the wheel of a cement mixer, often recounting how he maneuvered out of seemingly impossible situations on construction sites. Bob also enjoyed the thrill of riding motorcycles and continued to ride on two wheels well into his late 70s.

Following Norma’s passing, Bob moved to Loveland, Colorado, in 2019 to live with his sister, Sandy. He quickly became enamored with the state's wildlife and scenery. He was rarely without his camera and would spend hours sharing photos of his adventures with friends and family. His love for the open road never faded; he traveled across the country to visit national parks, animal sanctuaries, and loved ones, even between chemotherapy and doctor’s appointments. When he wasn't "gallivanting" across the U.S., he enjoyed watching UConn women's basketball and NASCAR with his sister, Donna.

Known for his positive attitude, unique sense of humor, and fierce independence, Bob was a man of true determination. As many who knew him often remarked: “They don’t make 'em like that anymore.”

An informal gathering to celebrate Bob’s life will be held at Transcend, 45 Northwest Dr, Plainville, CT, Saturday, April 11th from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. All friends and family are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Colorado's Wild Animal Sanctuary, or a veterans organization such as the DAV.