July 7, 1934 – June 26, 2026
Robert "Bob" Roy Burns, 91, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2026, in Canton, New York.
Born on July 7, 1934, in Watertown, New York, Bob was the son of Calvin Ross Burns and Gertrude "Trudy" Addie Graves Rowley. He graduated from Clarkson College of Technology in 1959 with a degree in civil engineering. During his time at Clarkson, he was a member of the Chi Epsilon engineering honor society, served as president of the Theta Chi fraternity, and was a cadet officer in the ROTC program. He later earned two master's degrees in engineering and a doctorate in environmental engineering from Clarkson. In recognition of his lifelong dedication to the university, Bob received the Clarkson University Lifetime Engagement Award in 2023.
Following his graduation, Bob was commissioned into the United States Army and served two years at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He began his engineering career with the New York State Department of Transportation in 19
