Thursday, October 1, 2026 | St. Lawrence County, NY
POTSDAM — The village board of trustees has honored a former longtime official who recently passed away.
Bob Burns, who served as village administrator and engineer and as a trustee among …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This WeekPOTSDAM — The village board of trustees has honored a former longtime official who recently passed away.
Bob Burns, who served as village administrator and engineer and as a trustee among other things, passed away on June 26 at the age of 91 and a resolution honoring his life and legacy was read by Village Mayor Alexandra Jacobs Wilke at the village board’s July 20 meeting.
A citation was then presented to his grandchildren, Tom Burns and Cassie Burns, at the meeting.
“Bob was a four-time graduate of Clarkson University, earning a bachelor's degree, two master's degrees, and a doctorate in environmental engineering, while also completing the Army ROTC program and serving as president of Theta Chi Fraternity,” Wilke read.
“Following his Army service at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he began his professional career with the New York State Department of Transportation before returning to the North Country to oversee construction projects at SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton,” said Wilke. “In 1985, Bob was appointed Village Administrator and Engineer for the Village of Potsdam, a position he held until his retirement in 1996, providing skilled leadership and guidance during an important period in the Village's development.”
The resolution said that Burn’s commitment to public service extended far beyond his professional responsibilities, including service as a village trustee, membership on numerous village committees, and leadership roles with many community organizations.
“The Village of Potsdam hereby expresses its profound gratitude for the life and service of Dr. Robert "Bob" Burns and honors his enduring contributions to the Village and the many organizations and institutions he served,” Wilke read. “The Village Board extends its deepest condolences to Ellen Burns and the entire Burns family and recognizes that Bob's legacy will continue to inspire and benefit the Potsdam community for generations to come.”
We’re glad you read this article reported by the staff of NorthCountryNow.com.
If you haven’t done so already, please consider subscribing to ensure you have full access to all the news and info about St. Lawrence County.
Your subscriptions make it possible for us to provide trustworthy local news, promote our many community events, and encourage community dialogue.
