Douglas Allan Burger

Douglas Allan Burger, age 87, of Boulder, Colorado, died peacefully on Sunday, August 25, 2024. A true Colorado native, Doug was born in Boulder, Colorado, on May 25, 1937 and grew up in Denver. He survived polio at a young age and spent five months in a polio ward for boys in Children’s Hospital, Denver. His parents, George Herbert Burger and Blanche Engleman Burger were teachers; Doug’s childhood was immersed in reading, which sparked a lifelong passion for literature and education. This passion led him to become a dedicated teacher, influencing thousands of students throughout his career.

Doug received his Master’s Degree in English Literature from Lehigh University in 1962, was hired by the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1965 and completed his PhD from Lehigh University in 1966. By 1970, he was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor. Doug wrote on Chaucer, Tolkien, and various Middle English topics, as well as co-authored the popular children’s books, The Weighty Words Book (1985) and Weighty Words, Too (2008) with Paul Levitt and Elissa S. Guralnick. He served as Director of Undergraduate Studies in the English Department and was deeply engaged with the life of the department throughout his tenure.

Doug’s teaching career in English at CU-Boulder was legendary. He was awarded the title of Presidential Teaching Scholar in 1989, the Robert L. Stearns Award, and the Faculty Assembly Award for Excellence in Service, both in 2009. He received multiple teaching awards, too numerous to mention here, from 1967 through 2009, including mention in The Daily Camera’s “Best of Boulder." While Doug was always pleased and somewhat surprised at these awards, they were secondary to his love of teaching Anglo Saxon literature, Chaucer, Shakespeare, among other topics, and his genuine love and respect for students.

He was at his happiest in the classroom, whether an honors class of ten students or a Shakespeare for Nonmajors with over 200 students. Regardless of class size, he would know the names of his students by the second class meeting. He delighted in listening and interacting with students and genuinely valued their insights and opinions about assignments.

Doug’s deep and rich bass voice could be heard in church choirs, St. Cecilia Singers, and Cantabile chorale. His love of music extended his ever-widening circle of friends as he joined Madrigal Singers and gathered with like minded people informally for evenings of song and rich conversation.

A devout Episcopalian, he was active at both St. Aidan’s and St. John’s Episcopal Churches in Boulder, where he engaged in many classes of faith formation. He also served on the Board of Examining Chaplains in the Diocese of Colorado and as a reader of ordination exams at the national level.

Most importantly, Doug’s faith was evident in his approach to life and his kindness to everyone he met. He lived his faith fully, demonstrating the love and compassion that defined his character. His kindness, wisdom, and love have left an indelible mark on all who knew him.

A devoted family man, Doug enriched the lives of his loved ones with his deep understanding of the human condition and his boundless love. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Kay K. Cook; his cherished sons, Steven and Daniel; and his blended family members: daughters Catherine Cook and Julie French (Ed), and son Andre Kaiser (Eileen Teller) Doug took immense pride in his role as a grandfather to Brett O’Brien (Alex Pfaffenbach) Eric Newmiller, Andrew Newmiller, Legend Teller, and Luca Kaiser. He was delighted to be a great-grandfather to Joan and Rafe Pfaffenbach.

Doug was preceded in death by his brother Dennis, but he remained close to Dennis’s family—Sandy, his sister-in-law, and their children Eric Burger (Erica) , Andrea Auten (Ben), and Elizabeth Dohr (Michael)—who were very dear to him. He is also survived by his

99-year-old uncle Keith Engleman and cousins Craig, Chris, and Mark Engleman.

The family would like to thank Juniper Village and Trailwinds Hospice for exceptional care, compassion, and comfort given to Doug. We would also like to thank those who were dedicated to regular visits with him in his final months and especially in his final weeks.

The heartfelt tributes from his colleagues, former students, and friends have been a great comfort to his family. We are eternally grateful for the time we had with Doug and for the profound impact he had on all our lives. He will be deeply missed, but forever remembered with love.

A funeral for Doug will be held Friday, September 13, 2024 at 2:00 PM at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 2425 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80302.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Habitat for Humanity or the Humane Society are appreciated.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for the Burger family.