Donald Burgess

After a lifetime spent serving countless students throughout the Boston area, beloved husband, father and grandfather, Don Burgess of Milton, MA and Naples. FL passed away on Monday in Florida. He was 86.

 Burgess was born at home in the “Settlement” in Brookline, MA in 1932. He was the son of the late Clifford and Teresa Burgess. He was predeceased by his sisters- Joan Monagle, Marsha Mulligan and Myra Burgess, and by his brother Clifford. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Irene Burgess, his five children- son Phillip and his wife Christine of Boston, his cherished daughter Martha Bennett and her husband Robert of Boston, son John and his wife Betsy of New York City, son Clifford and his wife Gabriella of Greenville, SC, son Peter and his wife Marisol of Miami, FL and 12 grandchildren who provided him with more joy and happiness than anything else on earth. He also leaves his brothers Edward of Ludlow, MA and Richard of Kingston, MA.

 Dr. Burgess was a lifelong educator and a “Triple Eagle” having graduated from both BC High (Class of ’49) and Boston College (Class of ’53) before obtaining his Doctorate in Education from BC a number of years later. He taught math and coached at numerous high schools including Whitman-Hanson, Scituate and Boston Technical High Schools. He was the former Assistant Headmaster of Boston’s English High School, the last Headmaster of Roslindale High School, the first Headmaster of West Roxbury High School and later, a Community Superintendent and District Superintendent of the Boston Public Schools. He was a long-time member and former Chairman of the Milton School Committee. He finished the final decade of his career as the Superintendent of the Walpole Public Schools. He was a football and track coach at virtually all of the schools he taught at and was elected to the Massachusetts Track Coaches Hall of Fame many years ago. He was also a long-term member and past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Walpole Cooperative Bank for over 20 years, right up until the time of his death.

A wake will be held at the Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home at 326 Granite Ave in Milton on Friday, January 25th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A funeral mass celebrating Don’s life will be held at St. Elizabeth’s Church, 350 Reedsdale Road in Milton on Saturday, January, 26th at 12:30PM. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Donald Burgess Scholarship at The Walpole Scholarship Foundation PO Box 58 East Walpole, MA 02032 (https://www.walpolescholarshipfoundation.org).

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