I first got to know Burbs when my dad taught just down the hall from him. If I was lucky enough to go to the high school with my dad, we always had lunch with Burbs. He remembered me many years later when I became a student at the high school. I didn't take many classes with him, a major regret of mine, but he always had a warm smile and greeting. What an amazing man and teacher we were lucky to all know.

I can safely that the world needs more 'Burbs, thanks for the great memories and letting kids be themselves.

Burbs was a major influence on my life and will be greatly missed. He was a wonderful caring man and teacher. I will always remember my Senior trip to Italy with him. I was so lucky to have him in my life. Jennifer McNabb

It's been such a long time but I clearly remember Burbs. A kind and fun soul, inspiring, and dedicated. I'm glad to have known him. So sorry for your loss.

My biggest regret at D-S was never having taken one of Burbs Classes. That didn't mean you didn't know and Love Burbs. A teacher who shared such compassion, passion and kindness. He was a treasure for all who were lucky enough to cross his path! My heart goes out to your family but know how loved he was and will forever be!

'Burbs' was my favorite teacher at DSHS...he was one of the reasons I went to art school and became a jeweler.

I'm so sorry for your families loss. Burbs was a wonderful teacher! He greatly impacted my path in life (I became a BFA major and went on to teach art myself). He will be greatly missed!

I feel honored that I met Joe and he was a wonderful family friend. I enjoyed the many stories he told over the years. He was a part of our holiday family get togethers. Joe was a kind and generous man with many talents. He will be greatly missed.

You were one of the very best things about Dover Sherborn High School! I will never forget the school trip to Italy my Junior year. You taught us so much and were such a genuinely nice person. You will be missed!

I know I have no artistic ability, but he was always more encouraging than critical of my "art" projects. I always got a kick out of the way he pronounced my last name when he took attendance...more Italian sounding than the Irish that it is. Always admired his talent, compassion and kindness. Thoughts and prayers to the family.

Even though I wasn't one of your art students, I was lucky enough to be one of those students who went to Italy with you! Thank you for one of the best times I still talk about that trip as one if my favorites. My prayers are with you

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Just an amazing teacher, so kind and tried to inspire the artist in each one of us. I went on the Italy trip and can still remember it as if it was yesterday. Memories for a lifetime. I was just thinking of Mr. Burbank the other dayas I was signing up my oldest for his trip to Italy for his senior year. I wanted my son to have the same experience that I was lucky enough to have because of Mr. Burbank - Thank you! Your inspiration and love of Italy is passing to the next generation. Rest in peace!

Burbs taught me how to paint, how to love art and how to love life. I was in his studio art classes for 2 years, and he was always enthusiastic and kind. I remember his retirement get together several years ago (~2005) and he was still as wonderful and engaging as ever. May he rest in peace, and may the hereafter always have good food and infinite colors of paint.

We will miss you so much. We had such wonderful conversations and spent many memorable times and holidays together. Your friendship meant the world to us and we will treasure it forever.Our one regret is that we had not met sooner.

Though I was not a student of yours as a student at Dover/Sherborn.... your encouragement on my abilities and your mere recognition of them (unknown by me at the time) has been inspirational to me over all these years. Your mere words.... a simple acknowledgement from you...encouraged me to understand my gift....denounced at that time. Today...through your seemingly simple words to a mixed up child...I am now 54 years old and enjoy a gift that many do not have... I am a reverse painter. Thank You for those simple words of encouragement...it was only a few sentences, taking only a few seconds...but have lasted my life time. Out of all my teachers...and you were not even one of them....it was you that had the most impact on my life. May God hold you in his palm...and may your spirit forever sore.

Burbs, we will miss your smile, laugh and uplifting spirit. Thank you for being an amazing art teacher. My favorite project was making my DS Bowl on the pottery wheel. I proudly display it in my kitchen. You made a difference in this world. Love, Elizabeth Irwin Orlando '00

My Joe: My Bingo sidekick, Italian tutor, partner playing the slots, sharing gourmet tricks, trudging thru the snow up to our knees and sharing secrets that made us kinder spirits, I will miss you. May He keep you wrapped up in His arms as He welcomed you home. Love always......Joanie

Great guy, full of energy and enthusiasm. Talented artist, cook, gardener, tailor, teacher and so much more. He taught me how to do charcoal portraits, reminding me "darkest darks next to your lightest light". I'll miss him very much. It's so difficult to say goodbye to someone who was so much a part of your younger years. Joey was a unique, kind, encouraging and generous man. May he rest in peace with the Lord, and may his sweet daughter Leah find peace, knowing that her love for him, caring for him with great copassion, especially over the last months of his decline, brought him great comfort.

Joe was a life-long friend from our high school years in Hull to our retirement years in Florida. I will always be able to hear his wonderful laugh as it came straight from the heart. Despite a long illness, Joe was always so full of life and the joy of all it had to offer. I love you Joe and will miss you so much.

I don't know how to express my sadness at the loss of Joey Burbank, my brother-in-law for so many years. Joe was always very interesting, full of fun ideas and energetic. We had great fun in the early years with his great sense of humor with his laugh that I will never forget. Such a talented artist, creative and sensitive in all of his paintings and drawings. He taught me how to do charcoal portraits. He would say, Marilyn, put the "darkest dark next to the lightest light" I will always remember. No one can take his place, he was unique and generous and always engaging. His sweet daughter, Leah, took such good care of him as he was failing these last few months. I am so proud of my dear niece for showing him so much love and concern. Joe I'm going to miss you a lot. May you forever rest in peace with our Lord.

All night rennovations to our very first house in North Yarmouth Maine. What a blast! Then "Uncle" Joe heard of the injustice of NO PRIZE in the cereal, and he sat down with three little boys and wrote a great letter to Kellogg's, the result being a box of prizes in the mail a few weeks later! A gentle hearted, fabulously talented,generous man, whom I shall miss!

My Memory...I am going to miss my uncle Joe sooo much. He taught us how to be spontaneous in life and in art. I always looked forward to the gourmet meals on a casual Friday night that he could whip up out of no where. I loved how it could be 10:00 on a summer night and he would say, "Lets go to Paragon Park"! or "Lets head into the city for a late bite!"... Although he was not my formal art teacher in school, he was my art teacher. He loved to share his passion for Italy and all it's treasures on his trips there; Trips that many of us had the good fortune to enjoy with him. We would have enthusiastic conversations of style, technique and history. He taught me to "Draw what I see, not what I THINK I see". I will miss that wonderful laugh and and most especially how excited he was to see me every time I walked in the house, no matter if I had seen him months ago or had been by three times in a week. Uncle Joe, you will be missed, but my treasured memories of our time together will always stay with me.

Rockstar!

Rest in Peace Burbs. You were a wonderful teacher, everyone's favorite!

Rest easy, "Burbs." Many of my fondest memories were heading to your class at DS. Your talent and gentleness made creating and learning about Art an experience that I will always remember and appreciate. You will be missed my many. Tara Puccio

Mr Burbank was a wonderful teacher, mentor and friend. I have fond memories of the time I spent in his classroom and his never ending patience and creative spirit. He used to play a game where students would draw a squiggle on a piece of paper and with a few turns of a pen he would turn it into something amazing. I have played that game with my daughter for years and always think of "Burbs". He was a wonderful person and will be truly missed.

Joe was a lovely man in so many ways, always a wonderful host and friend. We were lucky to have him. Jody Wood

I will remember Joe fondly and I miss him. Joe was the father of my best friend Leah. But he was many other wonderful things besides a loving, caring and generous Dad. Artist, gourmet cook, film buff, home remodeler, painter, photographer, teacher.....Joe was a positive influence on me and many others. I am eternally grateful for having known him. Godspeed Joe. I miss you.

Very sorry to hear of Joe's death. He was good guy! Condolences to Heather and family. Frank and Carol

Joe's good humor, unflagging bonhomie and creative zest earned him an important and recognizable place in our class. Those personal qualities made him a terrific class president, and later a terrific teacher. Rest in peace.

Joe was senior class president where we both attended Mass Art. For my wedding he made a magnificent ceramic floor piece which I look at every day. In my garden are perennials which he gave me that flourish and are a constant reminder of his creativity and generosity. I remember when his daughter Leah was born, and how she ate the great food he cooked. No burgers and fries. Participating in the fabulous gourmet group which he developed was an amazing experience and it lasted for many years. Joe was blessed with endless talent and humor. He touched my life and will continue to do. It has been an honor to know him. My condolences to his family.

I will remember the fun we had shopping amongst other things. I will cherish the memories

Many years ago I met one of my favorite teachers in a shopping mall. She introduced me to her husband, Mr. Burbank. Miss Lewis was as beautiful as ever. I quite enjoyed a graduate course where I met all kinds of interesting classmates, one of whom was Mr. Burbank. My sympathy to the whole family, especially to Virginia, my wonderful 7th grade teacher.

I remember Joe's wonderful stories about his experiences in Italy. He saw the beauty in the world. Now I can imagine Joe in his hillside villa in Florence standing on his veranda overlooking the olive groves. My toast to him as he raises his glass would be "A Life well lived".

As a young family teaching in Cohasset we knew Joe for many years. We started a Gourmet Club with him which was an amazing experience! We tried all kinds of recipes and have some of Joe's art work from decorations he made. He was a wonderfully talented man and such fun to be with. Unfortunately, we hadn't connected with him in quite a few years but we have very fond memories of those early times. Leah and family, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Joe will be missed. Blessings, Margo and Bill

My very first memory of Joe was meeting him at his home in Cohasset... many, many years ago. He was seated at his organ (which ironically sits on my front porch...who'd a thunk) playing it as i entered his home! That man would put a concert pianist to shame. His talents were immense. Not only could he play the organ/piano, he was also quite the artist...his paintings and sculptures were everywhere. I remember being SO impressed with one of the walls in his kitchen where there was a (i believe it would be called a "freize"? with wheat or straw or something and painted white) Sorry Joe you're probably gently correcting me from your art studio in heaven right now. Not only was Joe an artist and musician... that man could cook! I was a frequent dinner guest on Old Pasture Road and would tell him each and every time I ate one of his meals that he should open a restaurant... he never did but I'm sure he'd be a millionaire several times over if he had...Joe had a back yard that was loaded with plants and flowers and beautiful shrubbery ...and a swimming pool fit for royalty...statues and a little waterfall thingie that he created. I used to try to help clean and vacuum the pool and was scared to death one time when was doing a backwash and really messed up the system. I didn't know him all that well at the time and was scared to death that he'd kill me but he was so kind and patient with me!!!! Thank you, Joe. ughhhhhhh so much more that I could say about this man...His beautiful daughter, Leah, was the apple of his eyes. He loved her more than life itself and she was always there for him... especially during his last days. To Leah, Gigi, family and friends of Joe... I send you my deepest sympathies... He will be missed here on planet Earth but there's no doubt that he is painting a mural on the ceiling of his new home in Heaven. Rest in Peace, Joe Burbank.

Growing up in a small town called Hull, everyone knew each other ,either by school, church, a local job or our parents! In this case for me it was all of the above. Joe was always with a smile and he loved going and getting his haircut by my Dad. Joe spoke Italian and he was proud of that! I often wondered where he was and what he was dong with his life! And I see he had settled just a few towns away from me here in Naples, Fla. Well my long lost friend, sorry we never caught up! Rest in Peace Joe, you left us way to soon! Anna (Bonanno) Luciaa9aah

I was a friend of Leah's in High School and was lucky enough to be invited to go to Italy with them and the Dover Sherborn High School. It is a memory that I will never forget. I loved Mr. Burbanks sense of humor and love of life. I think of him often with fond memories.

Mr Burbank was my art teacher between 1970 and 1974. I had very limited abilities, but he always made me feel as if I was the most creative, and talented person he had ever taught, I was the only one working in clay at the time, so it was easy not to compare my efforts with anyone else! I ran into him at Home Depot of all places about 10 years ago and had a chance to tell him what a wonderful teacher he was and because of his encouragement had gone on to study ceramic design in college, and that I was still working in clay, " Of course you are! " he said. Such a talented , kind man.

I was extremely saddened to hear the news of Mr. Burbank's passing. (I believe) he was my 7th grade art teacher at Dover-Sherborn Junior High School (forgive me, it's been many years and my recollection is a little foggy). I believe it was around 1977/78 timeframe. I do remember that he was one of the best teachers I ever had, and he helped me strengthen my artistic skills, recognized my talents, encouraged me, and inspired me to appreciate creativity, collaboration and enjoy life from an artistic perspective. Always a patient man and enjoyable to be around and I will forever be grateful for all the ways he touched my life as a student and beyond. My heartfelt prayers go out to him and sincere condolences to his family and those close to him. Regards, Skip Knierim

I was a student of Mr. Burbank at Dover-Sherborn High School . I graduated in 1972. Mr. Burbank's class was the best ! His love of life and his wonderful spirit were so infectious! It was because of Dear Mr. Burbank that I decided on Art as my career . Art excited him so much and his was the ONLY class I looked forward to in school.... As an illustrator, I find art to be theraputic and a means of renewal of Spirit for myself and others. Rest in Peace , Mr. Burbank, you will be in the heart of so many .....

Mr Burbank was gifted in his artwork and making his students feel like a friend / peer...Respect was mutual and that too, allowed for the "creative juices" to flow. He was one of the most patient teachers I had at DS...64 Years Young..Rest in Peace Mr Burbank.

I have many wonderful memories of my Uncle Joe. When I was small, if my mom said we were going over the Burbank’s house, you would have thought she said we were going to Disney. Joe always made an “everyday” visit so much fun for us. I spent many summer days at their pool, which he had transformed into a tropical paradise. Amazing food, games, and fun late nights always followed. Joe also made the holidays so special and memorable. Who could forget the amazing Christmas decorations (and wall to wall gifts), spectacular centerpieces that he just “whipped up” from things around the garden, and gourmet meals that would leave us stuffed. I can remember Leah’s birthday parties where Joe added his artist’s touch…at one party Joe took photographs of every child, then went downstairs to develop the pictures in his darkroom, so each kid left with a professional portrait. At another party, he had each child draw a scribble on his artist’s pad with charcoal, and he then created a masterpiece that was suitable for framing! I was so touched to read that one of Joe’s students remembers this gift and shares the “squiggle” game with her own daughter. I do the same with my daughter and I always think of Joe. He was warm, loving, genuine, funny and generous. I was blessed to have Joe as my Uncle and I will miss him very much.

His space was an oasis. Inner turmoil, outward turmoil, ceased. He gave us this, the experience of a joyful peace and asked for nothing but a mirror to his own smile. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Burbank.

What a great teacher, caring, funny, and just a great guy to be around. I was a student of his at Dover-Sherborn High School, and was even lucky enough to go on one of the trips to Italy...great trip, lots of memories. So sorry for your loss.

Mr Burbank was one the most influential and fun teachers I have ever had. I was shocked when I first met him that there was actually a teacher that could understand life out side the classroom and us as people and not just the students. He had a terrific sense of humor. I loved it when I would ask him a question and he would look at me like I was out of my mind and shake his head, stop, and grin his beautiful smile, touch me on the arm and say, "I'm just kidding!", Or "Got You, didn't I?" He would always give us exactly what we needed. He gave us so much rope. I later went on to teach art myself. Film and video. His style of being informative while at the same time being not above the students taught me how to teach. It paid off as a parent as well. Working at the same level but helping all the time. The results are always wonderful. He taught me that there is life outside the classroom and the importance of being observant and not closed minded. He would always "Play" the other side to get you to think and see that maybe there is another way of looking at it and then, possibly maybe more. All at the same time agreeing with your first point of view. Mr Burbank was a Great Man and will live on in my mind as a true spirit of good.

Dear Heather and family, This comes to you with sympathy especially with many warm and caring thoughts are there with you all . Our thoughts and prayers are with you all Buddy and Ginny Finneran.

Hi Leah, so sorry for your loss. our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Joe was a great man, he was kind hearted and a great cook; i remember our gathering at your home in cohassett, swimming,eating,having a good time; and he cook for all of us church women. He will surely be missed. I love you Leah.

Mr. B, Burbs -- you were an inspiration to all of us 'want-to-be' art students at DS. Your energy, humor and creative distractions to high school students to keep us focused and on task always worked. Your creativity and encouragement inspired all of us. Thank you for being a part of my life.

I often think about my adventures in Mr. Burbanks art classes- and the trip to Italy he took us on. I remember walking with him through the old bridge markets in Florence. I try to channel his patience and foster curiosity about the world with my students today. It was almost twenty years ago since I was his student. Mr. Burbank was an amazing teacher.

He was one of those teachers that touched my life. He was different than the rest as he felt like a friend and on our side which is a big deal when you are in high school. He was so kind and fun. I loved his class! Because he thought I did good work it gave me the confidence to believe I was good too. I now am an interior designer. Mine is one of many lives he inspired. Sincerely, Tina Scharding

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.