Douglas Allan Burger
Douglas Allan Burger, age 87, of Boulder,
Colorado, died peacefully on Sunday, August
25, 2024. A true Colorado native, Doug was born in Boulder, Colorado, on May 25, 1937 and grew up in
Denver. He
survived polio at a young age and spent five months in a polio ward for
boys in Children’s Hospital, Denver. His parents,
George Herbert Burger and Blanche Engleman Burger were teachers; Doug’s
childhood was immersed in reading, which sparked a
lifelong passion for literature and education. This passion led
him to become a dedicated teacher, influencing thousands of students throughout
his career.
Doug received
his Master’s Degree in English Literature from Lehigh University in 1962, was
hired by the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1965 and completed his PhD from
Lehigh University in 1966. By 1970, he was tenured and promoted to
Associate Professor. Doug wrote on
Chaucer, Tolkien, and various Middle English topics, as well as co-authored the
popular children’s books, The Weighty
Words Book (1985) and Weighty Words,
Too (2008) with Paul Levitt and Elissa S. Guralnick. He served as Director of Undergraduate
Studies in the English Department and was deeply engaged with the life of the
department throughout his tenure.
Doug’s teaching career in English at
CU-Boulder was legendary. He was awarded the title of Presidential Teaching
Scholar in 1989, the Robert L. Stearns Award, and the Faculty Assembly Award
for Excellence in Service, both in 2009. He received multiple teaching awards,
too numerous to mention here, from 1967 through 2009, including mention in The
Daily Camera’s “Best of Boulder." While Doug was always pleased and
somewhat surprised at these awards, they were secondary to his love of teaching
Anglo Saxon literature, Chaucer, Shakespeare, among other topics, and his
genuine love and respect for students.
He was at his happiest in the
classroom, whether an honors class of ten students or a Shakespeare for
Nonmajors with over 200 students. Regardless of class size, he would know the
names of his students by the second class meeting. He delighted in listening
and interacting with students and genuinely valued their insights and opinions
about assignments.
Doug’s deep and rich bass voice
could be heard in church choirs, St. Cecilia Singers, and Cantabile chorale.
His love of music extended his ever-widening circle of friends as he joined
Madrigal Singers and gathered with like minded people informally for evenings
of song and rich conversation.
A devout Episcopalian,
he was active at both St. Aidan’s and St. John’s Episcopal Churches
in Boulder, where he engaged in many classes of faith formation. He also served
on the Board of Examining Chaplains in the Diocese of Colorado and as a reader
of ordination exams at the national level.
Most importantly, Doug’s faith was evident in his approach to life and his
kindness to everyone he met. He lived his faith fully, demonstrating the love
and compassion that defined his character. His kindness, wisdom, and
love have left an indelible mark on all who knew him.
A devoted family man, Doug enriched the lives of his loved
ones with his deep understanding of the human condition and his boundless love.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Kay K. Cook; his cherished sons, Steven
and Daniel; and his blended family members: daughters Catherine Cook and Julie French (Ed), and son
Andre Kaiser (Eileen Teller) Doug took
immense pride in his role as a grandfather to Brett O’Brien (Alex Pfaffenbach)
Eric Newmiller, Andrew Newmiller, Legend Teller, and Luca Kaiser. He was delighted
to be a great-grandfather to Joan and Rafe Pfaffenbach.
Doug was preceded in death by his brother Dennis, but he
remained close to Dennis’s family—Sandy, his sister-in-law, and their children
Eric Burger (Erica) , Andrea Auten (Ben), and Elizabeth Dohr (Michael)—who were
very dear to him. He is also survived
by his
99-year-old uncle Keith Engleman and cousins Craig, Chris,
and Mark Engleman.
The family would like to thank Juniper Village and
Trailwinds Hospice for exceptional care, compassion, and comfort given to
Doug. We would also like to thank those
who were dedicated to regular visits with him in his final months and
especially in his final weeks.
The heartfelt tributes from his colleagues, former students,
and friends have been a great comfort to his family. We are eternally grateful
for the time we had with Doug and for the profound impact he had on all our
lives. He will be deeply missed, but forever remembered with love.
A funeral for Doug will be held Friday, September 13, 2024
at 2:00 PM at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 2425 Colorado Avenue, Boulder,
Colorado 80302.
In
lieu of flowers, donations to Habitat for Humanity or the Humane Society are
appreciated.
