The passing of Dave Burmester, a community treasure

He left a legacy of love, understanding, joy and the value of every one of us

I consider myself blessed and privileged to have known Dave
Burmester, a beloved longtime resident of our town who died on January 16 at the age of 86.

Of course, there are about 50,000 other souls in Davis - and elsewhere - who feel exactly as I do.

This is because Dave was a man for all seasons and a man for all reasons. He touched people from all walks of life, from youths to the elderly to everyone in between, and never once said "no" to a person in need or someone who just wanted a few minutes of his time to share in his wisdom and kindness.

He was a teacher, a mentor, a director, a volunteer, a leader, a servant, a husband, a dad, a grandfather, a great grandfather, and performed all of those roles with heart and soul and love and care and deep humility.

He was also quite possibly a living saint.

Yes, it's sometimes easy to make someone bigger in death than they were in life, but that's not the case here. Put simply, Dave Burmester was the real deal in the best sense of those words.

I knew him when my oldest kids were at Davis High School or when I'd run into him at a school play or a game or in the grocery store or after Mass on Sunday morning.

His joy and his kindness and his interest in who you were and what you were about let me know early on that he was one of the finest people the Good Lord chose to put on this earth.

Dave was cherished in so many roles that it's hard to know where to begin.

He and his wife Libby met while practicing for a school play at Sir Francis Drake High School in Marin County nearly 70 years ago and have seven children - John, Steve, Chris, Tracy, James, Tom and Mia.

Libby and Dave

After he taught for several years in Clarksburg, Dave and his family moved to Davis in 1970 when he became a faculty member at Davis High School until his retirement over three decades later.

To say his students remember him fondly would be a massive understatement.

Noted his son James, who took an English class from his father at Davis High, "His students and friends always say that he could see people for who they really were and bring out the positive and creative things that people would not see in themselves. This is why he was a great teacher and human being. I am happy that he brought so much light into this world."

In 1981, Dave founded the Acme Theatre Company, made up of local teenagers who loved the stage and everything connected to it.

It was there that so many Davis kids developed a lifelong love of all aspects of theater.

Many of them took to social media to discuss how Dave Burmester's gifts have stayed with them as they went off into the world.

Wrote Hannah Stoebel, "One of Dave's guiding principles, which was baked into Acme from the start, was that teens made it all happen. It was our space to succeed or fail, but it was ours either way. That was such a motivator for me at the time, but looking back two decades later as a mom, I can see its value tenfold in helping me grow into an adult. Dave was the first to say that young people made it all happen. It was his constant belief in young people to achieve more than most adults ever thought possible."

Added Miriam Eusebio, "Dave Burmester was one of my most important theater teachers and a touchstone in my life for goodness and integrity. When he started Acme Theatre Company and trusted me as a person - not as a young potential person, but a whole person right then - he helped me trust in my own competence and abilities. He is part of who I am and I will be forever grateful for his example."

Wrote Mike Monagle, "I join the cast of literally thousands whose lives Dave touched, shaped, influenced, brightened. All of us mourn, but also celebrate a beautiful long life, devoted to service, selflessness, patience, kindness, laughter, art, creativity and spreading joy. Dave changed the lives of so many people, me included. I discovered who I was and what I was to become under his direction and mentorship. He was my confidant when I needed advice and my friend once I joined the throngs of Acme alums. Tears flow, in gratitude, for knowing and loving - and being loved by - such a magnificent example of Christ's central message - to love one another."

Added Mike, "Like my parents, Dave and Libby were from a different generation where living a deep faith was more common. What deserves recognition is the way they lived it, in service to the less fortunate, the outcasts, the other. It's as if Dave and Libby sought out ways to give to others - in charity, never proselytizing nor preaching - so that their lives would be the true testament of their faith. The innumerable acts of love and unwavering fight for justice on behalf of those who needed justice, over such a long period of time is evidence that angels live amongst us."

Yes, for over 20 years Dave and Libby have been instrumental in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. James, a group that tirelessly and cheerfully serves those in need in Yolo County.

Commented longtime family friend Val Dolcini, "I got to know Dave in another important way; this time during our service together on the St James Pastoral Council. He and Libby had found their faith community here and they both have contributed to St James and the broader Catholic community in ways large and small. Dave opened his heart to God and has lived his faith every day by serving as a lay leader, proclaiming the word of God as a lector, singing from the pews, and helping to marshal parish resources to help those in need through the local chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He has personified the words of the British writer William Thoms who cautioned us to 'Be careful how we live our lives for we may be the only Bible some people ever read.' This small, but important observation about the human condition is a call to humility, a summons to servant-leadership, and an exhortation to lead a decent and honorable life."

Libby and Dave

Former Davis Mayor and Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor wrote, "Dave Burmester, 86 years on this earth. He touched so many lives. The soul of a teacher. A beating heart for the youth of our community."

Said Dave and Libby's son Chris, "Our dad was a creative genius with a unique talent for inspiring youth to rise to their greatest potential. He did that by believing in our abilities and giving us a chance to try things out with him as a safety net - there to help us if needed as a mentor or a guide - but mostly he expected us to do it and treated us as equal partners in whatever we were doing."

Chris also had thoughts on what it was like to be a Davis High School student with his father as his teacher.

"I was trying to get his attention in class one day. At the start of the term, after calling out, 'Dad. Dad' a couple of times to no avail, I switched to 'Dave,' which is what he invited all of his students to call him. This immediately got his attention and resulted in a cacophony of laughter from the rest of the class. I didn't mind sharing my dad with everyone else. He made us all feel as special as if we were all his children."

Dave in his classroom at Davis High School

Daughter Mia has a heart full of memories.

"What I miss most is his presence, his voice, his bear hugs, his unconditional love, his wisdom, his humility. He was one of the most beautiful people I have ever known. He used to bring home movie reels and we would watch them on a sheet on the wall and drink root beer floats. That was a very fond memory of mine as a small child. He taught us everything, but mostly to love others, live by the Golden Rule, care for the Earth and to serve those who are less fortunate. He taught me to value art. To live with dignity and respect."

Dave solves another puzzle

Son Steve recounted the last few days of his father's life.

"He spent his last week of life surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren 24 hours a day. This is exactly what he wanted and he spoke volumes to us about how proud he was of us and how much he loved us. He was an amazing father. The message he told me to share with the world the last time I talked to him was this: be loving and compassionate to everyone."

Amen.

A public celebration of Dave Burmester’s life will be held March 8 at 2 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Center in Davis.

Reach Bob Dunning at bobdunning@thewaryone.com