Robert N. Burlingame

Burlingame, Robert N. Ph.D.
Dr. Robert Northcutt Burlingame, father, teacher, and poet died on September 25th following a short illness. Dr. Burlingame was born to Ray and Esther Burlingame in Pratt, Kansas and though he grew up in Wichita, he was always drawn to the Southwest. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the University of New Mexico where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honorary scholastic society. He received his PhD from Brown University where he focused his work on the essays and poetry of Marsden Hartley. Dr. Burlingame was a Fulbright Scholar and the recipient of the Pushcart Prize. In 1954 he was recruited by C. L. Sonnichsen to teach at the University of Texas El Paso (formerly known as Texas Western College). It was under Dr. Burlingame��?�s leadership that the Department of English expanded its course offerings to include "World Literature, Introduction to Poetry, Contemporary Poetry, Romantic Criticism, and Russian Literature. Dr. Burlingame was an inspiring teacher regarded and respected by his colleagues and students. Writing and teaching provided Dr. Burlingame the most satisfaction and although he retired from teaching in 1989, he continued to write and publish poetry until his final days. Dr. Burlingame was a distinguished poet held in high regard in the literary field. A theme that runs central to all his poetry is a dignity, regard, and understanding of the human condition. He was the author of the following books of poetry: This Way We Walk, (1964), Nine Poems, (1966), Eighteen Poems, (1976) and most recently Some Recognition of the Joshua Lizard (2009), a retrospective of his work over the past 50 years. He was working on one final book which will be a collection of poems on the desert landscape. Since his retirement as Professor Emeritus of English, Dr. Burlingame and his wife Linda have lived in the shadows of El Capitan in the Guadalupe National Park. This setting gave him inspiration and peace in the last few years of his life and is where he created his final book, a tribute to the landscape he so loved. Dr. Burlingame is survived by his wife, Linda, who enriched his life and encouraged his work in his years after leaving UTEP and his former wife Margaret who supported his work throughout his earliest years. He will be remembered by his children, David Hartley, Randall Sanford, Ann Mary, and Philip Haniel who are grateful to have had such a remarkable man for their father and their families Ann Sutherland Burlingame, Kimberly Murray Burlingame and Frederick Joseph Diab and grand children Avry, Kyra, and Ruby Burlingame and Maggie Diab. The family will gather in remembrance on Saturday, October 1st at 2pm at Daniels Family Funeral Home, 100 Coal Street SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Guadalupe National Park and the University Library, University of Texas at El Paso.
1100 Coal Ave SE
Albuquerque, NM, 87106
505-842-8800