Wow.  A year has passed.  Our thoughts and prayers for Marion and her family.
Jim and Mayra Colvin

Condolences from me as David was a colleague and mentor to me in my early career in the Semiconductor industry.   With dearest sympathies and love.  ❤️. Arthur G. Rawers,  Largo, FL.

I am so sorry for your loss of David we did not get to see much of one another sense high school, but it was so good to get together with you David and John ln Maine.  Alice had a stroke, Hart atact & Covid.
Stay safe and thank God for all the great time that you all shared.

ITS ALL GRACE
GOD BLESS,
David Blood

(Dad story part 3b)

One of the other things I remember doing at the resort was hiking a little trail into Austria. I'm not sure how that was possible, but it really was that close.

I think we stayed one more night at the resort, then we started circumnavigating Bavaria. Dad made me research options and CALL ON PHONE to make a new reservation each night in German. We started with Regensburg and ended with Regensburg; I think we went to Nuremburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and Neuschwanstein Castle, and possibly a few other places.

Regensburg was my favorite! We walked the old stone bridge and ate at the stone bridge restaurant <#2>, which served only Nuremberger (Nürnberg) sausages (in pairs), sauerkraut, and light or dark beer. Apparently it is the longest known continuously operating restaurant in the world! (But I didn't know that at the time; it is still open daily 8am to 7pm.) To get a server's attention, a local construction worker stood on a bench and hailed her for us. We watched a new movie, Der Sommer des Falken <#3>, by special engagement. The theater was just a block from the restaurant, and after looking at the schedule we realized we were late. There was no one in the theater, though, and the owner let us in and started a private showing. This was a made-in-Germany Disney-like kids adventure movie that was just my speed to follow (for the most part) in German. I later discovered that it won many awards in Germany <#4>. Finally, we took a tour of St. Peter's Cathedral (with restoration work in progress) in German. By the end of that day, most of the German skills I'd ever had were restored.

Thanks, Dad, for the trip and the memories.

#2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regensburg_Sausage_Kitchen
#3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArIt4MxpCZ8
#4 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Sommer_des_Falken

(Dad story part 3a)

Related to his worldwide FA teaching schedule, Dad one year brought me to Germany (it was early summer of 1988, so technically it was still West Germany) to “show him Germany.” Other than I'd had 4+ years of classroom German in high school, but never been anywhere German was spoken, I don't know how I was quite qualified for the job.

He'd just finished a teaching gig in Munich when I arrived in Germany. He had a tiny rental car—weirdly, I think it was a standard transmission Ford—and he picked me up at the Munich airport. We spent the first night in Reit im Winkl <#1> at a ski resort (offseason). I have NO IDEA how he managed to get checked in; he certainly didn't speak any German, and typically resorted to yelling to get people to understand him. The local employees didn't speak much English, either.

The first morning we went to the gorgeous hardwood-paneled dining hall to get the included breakfast. It was nearly empty—I think the whole resort was nearly empty—and we were greeted and seated by a young woman in traditional dress. She asked, "Kann ich Ihnen helfen?" and waited expectantly. It took me a long moment to process this question, as I hadn't EVER spoken German outside a classroom… and that had been several years before.

Apparently there was no menu. She would bring us anything the kitchen could make, leaving me to wonder what that might be. She eventually started listing things, some of which I recognized, but when I was still looking dumbfounded she gave up and went back into the kitchen. And started bringing things to the table. Soft boiled eggs in fancy tall dishes. Cold cuts and cheeses. Pastries. Coffee and juices. Several kinds of potatoes. Basically she filled the table until nothing else would fit. We had a FEAST. It was delicious. And apparently it was all included with the room. She and the cook probably had a good laugh at the dumb Americans.

(continued)

#1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reit_im_Winkl

David and I grew up together in Auburn ME. We went to high school together in the 1950s, an era that seems almost unrecognizable in today's world. David and Marion were sweethearts even then. I was lucky enough to have a car and I lived out of town. My car was a 1939 Pontiac coupe that belonged to my grandmother and had no back seat but there was a space where my father built a wooden picnic bench that could fit five boys. So, every school day I picked up my friends on the way to school and David was one. Although, none of us lived in a gully, we called ourselves the Gully Rats, probably because, for boys, it was a better name than the Songbirds. We have stayed in touch over the years off and on, but you don't forget David. Even then, David heard an extra groove in his life’s 33 1/3 RPM. You think of David and then of Marion, now there's a love to warm your heart. Goodbye David from your fellow Mainer, bless you. Your old friend.

(Dad story part 2)

Dad rarely came to my house in NC or NY. When he did, he cleaned toilets (using chemistry), fixed railings and plumbing, and hung speakers for a new sound system.

Until age 11—that is, until I didn't fit in the cars anymore—I raced quarter midgets. I felt like the luckiest kid in the world! Dad could frequently be found in the garage tinkering with the cars. He maintained everything, as far I as know, except repairs to the frame. Especially, he worked on the little engines. I remember his giddy excitement when he acquired a “spring compressor” tool; I guess this let him put the engine back together (by himself) after some extensive repairs.

Dad and I built a bean bag bear for the Hewlett-Packard employee picnic one year. The whole project originated because Dad had a surplus mechanical bell and I'd just done some school project involving paper mache. (And, I think Dad had agreed to provide an “activity booth” for the picnic.) My part was to build a giant bear with an open mouth out of paper mache. Dad's part was make the bell ring when activated by a bean bag being tossed into the bear's mouth. The project ended up being a LOT more work than either of us anticipated.

By far the most ambitious project I remember doing with Dad was an electronic tic-tac-toe game. I don't really remember WHY we did this; it may have been a science fair thing when I couldn't think of a topic and couldn't stomach building a volcano. Dad was, I think, teaching me boolean logic—doesn't every eight-year-old know boolean logic?—and helped with a truth-table based design. This logic table was HUGE when written out. And it is the closest thing to “programming” I ever remember him doing. (That leads to another story, but I'll save that for later.) He found some surplus LEDs—in two colors!—as well as a few other early and fragile chips lying around in the garage. (I also recall lessons in how flip-flops worked about this time.) It was all hand-wired (and, possibly soldered?) by me. Best of all, somehow it worked!

I enjoyed talking with Dave at conferences we both attended.  Dave was always friendly and inquisitive.  Even though I am a good 20 years younger than he, he always asked questions in a way that made me feel like I was sharing important knowledge with him.  That is rare in today's world, where everyone simply wants to "too their own horn."

Marion, Teri and my prayers are with you and your family.  

Best regards, Chris

Dave was a true asset to the FA Community.  He was always open to sharing his thoughts and ideas on industry problems or on future designs for FA equipment.  He was a thoughtful, clearheaded, clear thinking man.  He was also unfailingly kind.  I will miss him.  I wish Marion peace in this tough time.

(Dad story part 1)

Dad was a science guy. Anything science; but especially math, chemistry,  physics, and electronics. He was also an engineer,  and often solved—or attempted solutions—to everyday problems using engineering. The result was a mixed bag; sometimes brilliant and sometimes disaster.

Dad could cook, although I don't remember him cooking often except for eggs and bacon for breakfast. One of my favorites was potato pancakes, which he would make from scratch for brunch or occasionally dinner. (Dad was proudly “half Polish.”) The pancakes weren't elaborate, but I could eat them all day and there never seemed to be quite enough.

On another occasion when I was perhaps 10 or 11, he applied creativity at dinner—presumably in an effort to get us kids to eat vegetables without complaining—and made mac&cheese… with green beans. This experiment was disastrous. Both Jon and I proclaimed he had ruined both side dishes. While the combination no longer seems quite as abhorrent, and I don't object to either individually, I would still rather have the two separately than mixed together.

Dave was always a gentleman. Very humble and with a big heart yet brilliant. He will be greatly missed. Besides his great contributions in FA for hot spot analysis and sample prep, he helped me figure out my wife had Pemphigus just 5 short years ago at ISTFA. A debilitating immune disorder affecting the skin and gums. We should all strive to be more like David Burgess.

Dear Marion and Family,

I’m so sorry to hear of Dave’s passing.  The years associated with he, and you, through IRPS, hold many fond memories. 
May your memories carry you forward and bring comfort.

Sandy Barber

OBITUARY

David Lewis Burgess

November 30, 1940 – March 31, 2024

Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary

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