In Memory: Frank Burr

Dear Laurentian Friends:

St. Lawrence has lost adopted son and Trustee Emeritus Frank W. Burr, who died April 20 in Florida, where he had resided for several years.

Before his retirement, Frank was a managing director with Trans-National Research, international political and economic consultants, in Ramsey, NJ.  He was formerly executive vice president of Alliance Capital Management and a director of several of that firm's mutual funds.  He was a leader in his community with United Way, the Board of Education and the local hospital, where he was chairman of the board.  He also founded an affordable housing corporation. 

Frank, graduate of Bethany College, first became associated with the University in 1993, when son Andrew matriculated in the Class of 1997, and later his son Matthew matriculated with the Class of 2003.  Frank joined the Parents Committee and showed deep understanding and enthusiasm for St. Lawrence immediately and was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1994, serving until 2003.  His outstanding Board performance brought Frank to the leadership of two Board committees at critical times, the Enrollment Committee and the ad hoc Canton Initiative Committee.  His service to St. Lawrence was characterized by measurable productivity for the committees of which he has been a member and a leader and also by the qualities of humanity and humor.

St. Lawrence is deeply grateful to the Burr family for its understanding of and extraordinary generosity to many University initiatives.  Their philanthropy supported such projects as expansion of science education, the Java Barn coffeehouse, as well as generous gifts to the St. Lawrence Fund for annual operations.

Lynn and I extend sincere condolences to Grace Burr, to their children and families, and to trustees and staff who remember Frank’s thoughtful, gracious presence among us.

Bill Fox