Timothy Peter Burgin

A man of deep Christian faith, Timothy lived his life with integrity, humility, and compassion. His work in organic/materials chemistry science earned him widespread respect, but those who knew him best will remember his gentle spirit, quiet strength, and unwavering love for God and for his family.

Timothy graduated from Sidney Central School in 1980. He received his undergraduate degree from Juniata College and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Indiana University Bloomington. He completed his postdoctoral research at the University of South Carolina, where he advanced his studies in organic chemistry. His academic path reflected a lifelong passion for learning and scientific discovery.

Over the course of more than 30 years, Dr. Burgin conducted groundbreaking research in the field of organic and materials chemistry, encompassing nanotechnology, surface chemistry, chemical synthesis, and physical/chemical measurements. Through rigorous analysis and innovative thinking, he made significant contributions to the fields of chemical and biological defense, superabsorbent polymers, gelation, carbon nanotube research, surface functionalization, molecular electronics, and organic metals. His notable achievements include the development of self-sealing fabrics for protection against chemical agents, a semi-empirical model for predicting the enthalpy of metal-metal interactions, low-temperature synthesis of active gold-titania nanoclusters, catalyzed self-degradation of HD (mustard agent), and novel models for predicting molecular interaction enthalpies and entropies of liquids. He also developed a depolymerizable polymeric surfactant for nanoparticle placement. Dr. Burgin was the author of 10 patents and over 40 scientific publications, which have been cited more than 4,000 times in scientific literature, a testament to the lasting impact of his work.

Timothy was the beloved husband of 27 years to Rebecca, and the proud, devoted father of Daniel and Christian. He was the cherished son of Bryan Burgin and the late Dorlyn Burgin. His close bond with Ronda and James Sweeney brought great joy to their lives and his.

Timothy found joy in the simple, meaningful moments of life: hiking outdoors, working with his hands in the woodshop, reading a good book on quiet evenings, listening to music, or watching a movie with his sons. A quiet listener and thoughtful companion, Timothy had a gift for making others feel seen and heard.

Timothy's life was rooted in love for God, for his country, for his family, for the beauty of the world around him, and for the pursuit of knowledge that could benefit others. His absence leaves a profound emptiness in the lives of those who loved him, but his legacy of kindness, brilliance, and steadfast faith will continue to inspire.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Timothy’s name to the following charities that were close to his heart.

https://www.stjude.org/donate-now

https://t2t.org/donate/

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." — 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV)

We invite all who knew and loved Timothy to join us in remembering his life, sharing stories, and offering support to one another during this time.