William L. “Bill” Burd, 72, passed away unexpectedly on August 15, 2022 at St. Elizabeth Medical Center. He was born in Flemmington, N.J. on September 2, 1949, a son of the late Harry and Dolly Johnson.
Bill received his education in Flemmington schools and on May 10, 1990 was united in marriage with Sharon Rankins.
Bill discovered a love for theatre in high school, first onstage in a school production of Twelve Angry Men (Jurors), then working the summer he turned 16 at the Lambertville Music Circus in New Jersey. He worked for a couple of seasons at McCarter Theatre at Princeton University, and together with his best friend Jack Schenck started Country Scenic Workshop. While at Princeton he saw the Alvin Ailey Company on tour and fell in love with Alvin’s work. From 1971 through 1985 he worked for the Ailey Company as a stage manager, technical director, and tour company manager. He shifted to academic theatre in Fall 1985, accepting a one year appointment at Hamilton College in Clinton as technical director, a job he held for more than twenty years. He retired from Hamilton, then was hired at Hobart and William Smith Colleges where he enjoyed another eight years as TD and faculty. After a second retirement that lasted about a year, he worked at Colgate University for a year as TD and faculty. The third retirement “stuck,” though he was delighted in retirement to be invited as a guest lighting designer or technical director for occasional theatre and dance pieces.
As a kid Bill had been fascinated by the Wickecheoke Creek behind the family home and explored miles of its ecosystem. As an adult he learned to fly fish at the Orvis School, and escaped often to Woodstock to fish along the Esopus Creek. When he relocated to Clinton, he first lived with friends on Dugway Road where he fished along the Oriskany Creek. Equally at home on the ocean, he loved to vacation along the New Jersey shore and fish the Manasquan Inlet or go out on one of the party boats. Living in upstate New York, he also discovered lake fishing at Canadarago and Otsego.
He was an avid reader, enjoying multiple genres: murder mysteries, plays, classic and twentieth century literature. He enjoyed football, but the NY Mets were his favorite team, and he would fondly tell anyone who asked that part of the reason was because he “courted” Sharon through the ’86 Championship season.
Bill adored his family. Ask any of his former students: they knew as much about his wife and daughter and their achievements as they learned about theatre arts. He loved to travel, and earlier this year while on vacation in Denver, he and Margot took a side trip to Utah and Nevada, so he could at last say he’d visited all 50 states.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Sharon, his daughter; Margot Grace Rankins-Burd, his sisters; Virginia and Irving Poole of Dillwin, VA., June and Frank Castellano of Bethlehem, PA. and Shirley Tyler of Blackwood, N.J., Sharon’s half siblings; Tom and Jean Rankins of Cazenovia, Gail Emmons of Chittenango, numerous nephews and nieces, close friends and former students who all became extended family.
He was predeceased by his siblings; Abby Johnson, Howard Johnson, Franklin Johnson and Dorothy Johnson.
Visitation will be Friday, August 26 from 4-7 at the Smith Funeral Home, 3022 Oneida St. Sauquoit.
Funeral services will be Saturday, August 27 at 11:00 at the Fly Creek United Methodist Church, 852 County Highway 26, Fly Creek, NY 13337.
In lieu of flowers, please consider gifts to: Schuyler Lake UMC Food Pantry c/o PO Box 505, Richfield Springs, NY 13439, or Friends of Island Beach State Park, PO Box 406, Seaside Park, NJ 09752. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
To send flowers to the family of William, please visit our floral store.
Published by Smith Funeral Home – Sauquoit on Aug. 16, 2022.
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