David Albert Burgess

Durham, NC – David Albert Burgess, 75, beloved husband, father, grandpa, and friend, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2024, surrounded by his family at home.

Dave was born on January 20, 1949 in Brockton, MA to a big Swedish family that taught him to love music, creamy casseroles, and beach vacations on Cape Cod. As the second of five children, and close with his many cousins, Dave learned quickly to evade punishment, sneak treats, and make mischief. He was especially gifted at perseverance. At age 7, Dave’s family moved to northern New Jersey where he made his home for most of his life.

Dave first met Barbara in the school band at James Caldwell High School, when he flashed his massive grin at her from the trumpet section. Despite efforts by all their younger siblings to de-rail things, Dave and Barbara started dating and their love survived some long distance courting and the infamous diamond chip necklace incident, marrying on a thundery August day in 1972.

Barbara says, “Dave was the nicest thing that ever happened to me.” They were married 52 years.

Dave had the mind and talent of an engineer, and graduated from Tufts University, and then Steven’s Institute of Technology, building a career in electrical engineering and aerospace defense. He joked that he could tell you about his projects, but then he’d have to kill you. Dave loved sports and played both softball and tennis well into his sixties. He was a long-suffering Giants fan, an avid Yankee fan, and a baseball fan in general, often doing projects around the house with the play-by-play being called on the radio by his side.

He enjoyed his career, but his life’s passion was being a father. Dave delighted greatly in his three children: Jon-Eric, Kristin, and Kara. He was the tickle-monster, the big push on the swing, the road-trip captain, the leader of ill-fated Grand Canyon hikes. When asked what was his favorite phase of raising children, he said “all of them.”

Dave also loved the families his children built. The outlaws Chris, Brad and Jenna were as dear to him as his own children, often (quite literally) carrying him as his illness progressed, and laughing along to his copious dad jokes. Even more precious to Dave were his eight grandchildren: Lucy, Alice, Hazel, Asher, Colette, Meredith, Holland, and Cassandra. The joy they brought each other was mutual.

Dave walked closely with the Lord, and his church family was family to him. He faithfully served in the church in a variety of ways throughout his life, and loved leading grace every night around the dinner table. A great joy of his life was seeing all his grandchildren being raised in the church, and his family takes great comfort knowing he is in the arms of the Lord now.

Dave endured Parkinson’s disease with grace and perseverance for the last fifteen years, determined to be as active and involved as possible. The last several years, despite his illness, Dave doggedly attended all the sports games, recitals, birthday parties, and beach trips.

Barbara and his children held Dave’s hands, singing, praying, telling funny stories, and celebrating the man he was to all of them. Love splashed around the room.

A Memorial Service will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 2, at the Hall-Wynne Funeral Home in Durham. There will be an opportunity for visitation just prior, at 10:00 am. A reception for family and friends will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, The Durham Rescue Mission, or Pioneers

The Burgess family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.