Robert Burger

Robert “Bob” Burger died on December 7, 2016 at the age of 98. He was born on July 3, 1918 in Brooklyn, New York, the only child of Samuel and Dorothea Burger. In his youth he lived near Ebbets Field and became an avid Brooklyn Dodgers fan.

After graduation from The University of Alabama in 1942 with a BA degree, Bob joined The United States Army Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1946. He taught in the New York City school system for several years before receiving a Master’s Degree in education from Columbia University. He subsequently became a beloved and respected school principal at PS 1 in Staten Island, NY. He served as President of The Conference House, a national historical landmark on Staten Island. Following his retirement as a principal, he worked for 10 years in Human Resources at Hardesty and Hanover, a civil engineering firm in New York City.

Bob is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Barbara, and daughters, Jean Romeo and Caroline Beals, and sons-in-law Bill Romeo and Chris Beals. He also leaves five grandchildren. Bob loved traveling with his family and he particularly enjoyed vacationing in East Dennis on Cape Cod. Bob and Barbara fully retired on Cape Cod in 1991, where they became active in the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Brewster. Bob served on the Board of Trustees at the church and led their hiking group for many years. He also loved to hike with the Appalachian Mountain Club. He enjoyed working with neighbors on the “Save the Crowe” project which established Crowe’s Pasture in East Dennis as a conservation area.

Bob loved living on Cape Cod and appreciated what the Cape offered him for fun and relaxation including attending performances at Cape Playhouse and Cape Symphony, boating, walking and swimming at Sea Street Beach, weekly bocce games, and year-round breakfasts with a men’s discussion group. Bob will be remembered by those who knew him for his intelligence, wit, sense of adventure, and devotion to his family.

The family would like to thank the staff at Liberty Commons and Broad Reach Hospice, Chatham for their compassionate care and support while Bob was a resident there. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 21 at 1:30pm at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Brewster. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jacob Sears Memorial Library, 23 Center Street, East Dennis, MA 02641.