Bouldin “Bo” G. Burbank Jr. peacefully passed away at the age of 88 on January 14, 2022 in his sleep while listening to jazz music on a full stomach of oatmeal. Bo was the youngest of two children born on October 27, 1933. He was the son of the late Bouldin and Janet (Goddard) Burbank of Winchester, MA.
Bo earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with minors in fine arts and physics from Trinity College in CT and a master’s degree in mathematics from Syracuse University; he also studied architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and received a National Science Foundation grant.
Bo was a high school teacher for 39 years. He taught for five years at Tabor Academy from 1957 to 1962, in Marion MA, and then at Mercersburg Academy in PA from 1962 until 1996. Bo was an emeritus faculty member at Mercersburg. He held the school’s David F. Chapman Chair for 22 years (from 1974 until his retirement) awarded for his excellence in teaching. Bo served as head of two different academic departments – mathematics and arts-and coached numerous sports, most notably squash as well as football, baseball, swimming, softball, and tennis. Bo coached many squash players that went on to become college captains, dozens of players under his tutelage attained national age group rankings and one would become the #1 ranked squash player in the world.
Bo was a gifted creative; a talented studio artist. He was extremely proud to have collaborated with several of his children in this field. Bo participated in a number of gallery shows in both Massachusetts and in Pennsylvania. He was a lover of blues and jazz music. He played the stand-up bass in a band, he was well known for his hand trumpet as he accompanied jazz groups and for his entertaining eclectic style on the piano. Additionally, during many of his summers, Bo taught hundreds of children how to swim and play tennis in Marion.
Bo was married to Eloise H. Burbank for 63 wonderful years. Bo is survived by his wife Eloise and his six children – Bradford Burbank and his partner Kristina Dunford of Onset, MA; Charlotte Burbank Fiorentino and her husband Benny Fiorentino of Watertown, MA; Douglas Burbank and his wife Roberta Crump-Moody of Loudon, NH; Tim Burbank and his wife Louise Lalli of Barrington, RI; Amy Burbank Kelaher and her husband Christopher Keleher of Tucson, AZ; and Sarah Burbank of Monteverde, Costa Rica, his grandchildren: Andrés, Willis, Samuel, Gabriella, Benjamin, Keegan, Erin, Kaci, Dylan, Stephen, Maisy and many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are incomplete at this time. A celebration of life will occur this summer in Plymouth, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bouldin G. Burbank Scholarship Fund at Mercersburg Academy, 100 Academy Drive, Mercersburg, PA 17236, or online at mercersburg.edu/give. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
