Terrence P. Burns

Terrence P. Burns, known to all as Terry, was born to John and Dorothy Burns, in Scranton, PA, on June 10, 1942. He attended Scranton Central High School (‘60) and earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Mount Saint Mary’s College (‘64) and his master’s in English from The University of Scranton (‘72). He is survived by his four children: Rebecca Burns, Meghan and her husband Shawn Higgins, Catherine and her husband Aaron and their daughters Stella and Silvie Wilson, and Christopher Burns. He was preceded in death by his wife Betty on March 8, 2023.

 In 1964, Terry began his teaching career at Staunton Military Academy, a boarding school in Staunton, VA. There he became familiar with the immersive lifestyle of a boarding school faculty member in which leadership responsibilities extend in all directions. Terry was a natural at synthesizing his dedication to a challenging curriculum with his many other roles within the community. This comprehensive approach would help define his legacy as an educator. 

 Terry and Betty were married in September of 1969 and arrived as newlyweds at The Pennington School in Pennington, NJ where Terry’s tenure as English teacher and Chair of the English Department endured for more than four decades. His roles at Pennington included hall parent in Old Main and Becher Hall, yearbook advisor, study hall proctor, National Honor Society Chapter advisor, director of the summer school program, and curator of cultural excursions to NYC where he chaperoned generations of students around the city he loved so much. Terry was a dedicated ambassador of The Pennington School, cultivating excellence in every student, colleague, and friend whose life he touched.

 Terry’s passion for teaching and his love of the material deeply resonated with students and fostered in them a lifelong interest in literature. His classroom was a wonderland of literary artifacts and original artwork created by his students, each piece reflecting his playful and insightful outlook on the world.

For many, it was Terry who introduced them to their own great potential as critical thinkers with pens, even influencing the careers many would pursue. His inimitable sense of humor engaged and entertained his students, while his dynamic teaching style encouraged them to think independently and challenge every idea. Students reaped the benefits of his challenging courses and high standards. Mr. Burns’s class was no easy A. 

 Terry and Betty raised their four children at the Pennington School, a unique enclave where the campus was their playground and the faculty their family. Terry was a devoted father who championed his children's pursuits through every phase of their lives. He never missed an event, often playing a quiet but pivotal role behind the scenes to ensure everything went as they had hoped. He clocked thousands of miles chauffeuring them to lessons, rehearsals, gigs, games, and friends’ houses. He set up apartments, hauled music equipment, and crafted costumes. He gave them beautiful summers in a cottage by the sea where he loved to sit in his beach chair with a book in his hand and his toes in the tide. He invested completely in each of them, embracing their passions as his own and finding creative ways to make them more meaningful. Somehow he always had time, and he gave his full attention to everything that mattered to them.

 Terry’s home was open to everyone: friends of his children, boarders who needed the comfort of home, new teachers looking for guidance. It was filled with books, art, music, and conversation. His eggnog parties at Christmas were legendary and his plaid blazers were iconic. His granddaughters loved inspecting his menagerie of treasures and hung on his every word about the origin of each. No occasion was too small to warrant a festive gathering and often there was no occasion but the desire to create one. His home provided joy. 

 Terry was a creature of curiosity. Whether checking out the latest interpretation of Shakespeare, poring over the New York Times, or jumping in the car to investigate some local intrigue, he was always engaged with the world around him. He would return from the Pennington Market with tidbits about everyone in town ascertained by his genuine interest in and affection for the human condition.

 Terry lived with his whole heart. He was a man of faith who believed the best in people and in the simple yet wise conviction that “it will all work out.” He valued his lifelong friendships; he loved his older brother John (who preceded him in death) and his younger sister Marianne (who introduced him to Betty); he cherished his nieces and nephews; he developed deep bonds with all the animals he initially said no to; he was the very best Pop Pop. Above all, he and Betty created a life for their children rich with education, adventure, humor, enduring traditions, and unbreakable love. 

 Terry’s legacy is profound and will continue through the thousands of lives he impacted. We will miss his comforting presence, signature sense of humor, and uplifting spirit forever. 

Visitation for Terrence P. Burns will be held at Blackwell Memorial Home at 21 North Main Street, Pennington, NJ on Friday, October 18 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.

The mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, October 19 at 10:30am at Saint James Roman Catholic Church at 115 East Delaware Avenue, Pennington, NJ.

Following the service will be a burial at Pennington Cemetery, across the street from Saint James on Delaware Avenue.

Immediately following, the family will host a reception at the Silva Gallery of Art at The Pennington School at 112 West Delaware Avenue, Pennington, NJ.