In Pictures

Photos and video capture only some of the moments and memories from an amazing career as a student, teacher, scholar, mentor, musician, leader, and friend.

University of Rochester photos / J. Adam Fenster (unless noted)

MUSICAL LIFE: A talented violinist from a young age, Burgett came to the attention of a violist for the St. Louis Symphony, who recognized Burgett's talents and offered to teach him. (photo courtesy of Paul Burgett)

MUSICIAN & TEACHER: Over the course of his career, Burgett taught music at the Greece Central School District, Nazareth College of Rochester, and the University. (photo courtesy of Paul Burgett)

ELDEST SIBLING: The oldest of six children born to musical parents, Burgett grew up with his sisters, Maggie, Lettie ’71, Mary, and Cathy, and his brother, Peter. (photo courtesy of Paul Burgett)

COLLEGIAL CONDUCTOR: A regular at University and alumni functions, Burgett often led the gatherings in the singing of "The Genesee," the University’s alma mater. As an unofficial historian, he instructed the audience that the tradition was to sing only the first and third verses, but admitted the reasons why were shrouded in mystery.

BELOVED FIGURE: Burgett eschewed the label of “administrator” in describing his roles at the Unviersity. He was widely beloved among alumni and students for his gregarious and generous personality. (University of Rochester photo / Brandon Vick)

PARTNERSHIP: “‘Dean Burgett’ touched the lives of thousands of students and of many of us among the faculty and staff as well,” said University President Richard Feldman in a tribute to Burgett, who worked together often when Feldman was dean of the College. “Paul accomplished what we all strive for: He leaves the University a better institution and Rochester a richer community for his presence.”

FORGED IN FIRE: In his signature presentation, “The Fiery Furnace,” Burgett welcomed students to campus and told them about the journey on which they were embarking. Undergraduate education is about the “confrontation with ideas, a process that’s sometimes fun, but more often hard, soul-searing. It’s like stepping into a furnace: hot, intense, at times terrifying. But you will step out of that furnace strong, tempered like steel.”

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It’s like stepping into a furnace, he tells them: hot, intense, at times terrifying. “But you will step out of that furnace strong, tempered like steel.”

And then he makes a promise: “We will not abandon you. We will never abandon you.”

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WILL THERE BE PIZZA? “Eleven months a year, if a student group said, 'We're having pizza at 11 o'clock at night; can you make it?' Paul would be there—even if he had an 8 a.m. meeting with the president,” said Logan Hazen, an associate professor at the Warner School and former director of residential life.

MASTER TEACHER: Burgett's two courses—History of Jazz or Music of Black Americans— always “were extremely popular,” said John Covach, John Covach, former chair of the College's Department of Music.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS: When he receveived a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Eastman School in 2015, Burgett combined his abilities as a performer, musician, and historian for a TED Talk-style speech that brought together music, anecdotes, aphorisms, and words of wisdom from Eastman alumni.

INTERCULTURAL . . . FROM BIRTH: In 2016, the University named the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center in recognition of Burgetts long service, a tenure in which—as a board resolution noted—he was a “tireless advocate for justice and equity for all.” Delighted with the honor, Burgett wrote a note of thanks in which he said he was “an intercultural product ... from birth.”

VETERAN LEADER: A former US Army Reservist, Burgett was one of several veterans recognized for their service during an annual ceremony on campus.

RACE IN AMERICA: Burgett talked with acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns about race in America during a Meliora Weekend session in 2015. Burns and Burgett also spoke with WXXI-FM public radio's Evan Dawson. (To listen, visit WXXi.org.)

CHAMPION CHEERLEADER: Burgett was deeply committed to diversity issues—he's shown here at the annual Presidential Diversity Awards. “[Burgett's] genuine, heartfelt, and gracious interest in the success of every student, faculty and staff member, and administrator drove every decision he made as a University leader and every initiative he championed at the University,” said President Feldman.

'PASSION AND ABILITY DRIVE AMBITION': The passion Burgett felt for working with students was borne out in his teaching, in the “disciplined attention and enthusiasm for the music and ideas that I try to bring to my students in the classroom,” he once said. “Students are my most favorite people in the world. I adore them. I love students. My idea of the closest thing to great potential and to efforts at human perfection, for me that's to be found in students.”

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Rochester Review
January-February 2015
“Fifty years ago, Paul Burgett arrived at the University of Rochester. Neither has been the same since.”