(From Parker Mortuary)Dr. Bruce Wentworth Burleigh of Joplin, Missouri passed away peacefully surrounded by family on December 20, 2022.
Born on July 25, 1943 in Yonkers, New York, he was the eldest son of Grace Ann, an elementary school teacher, and Robert Wentworth Burleigh, an engineer with Otis Elevator - United Technologies. Growing up in the New York area, he enjoyed spending time at Jones Beach and rooting for the Yankees. He attended Briarcliff High School from 1957-1961.
Bruce attended Tufts University in Boston, where he swam on the Men’s Varsity Swim Team and played Fullback for the Tufts Jumbos Varsity Football Team. He belonged to Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1965. He continued his studies at Yale University School of Medicine where he earned an M.D. in 1969. During these summers, Bruce worked as counselor at Camp Wagon Road in Chappaqua, New York, a camp for special needs children.
It was also during these years that Bruce would drive up to Maine in his spare time to a spot on Lake Androscoggin in central Maine. Together with his friends, he designed and built a summer cabin, painted a deep red, with a warm pine interior. This would become his most treasured family gathering place for years to come.
Throughout their 39 years of marriage, Bruce and his wife Susan would bring together friends, children and grandchildren to this locale to enjoy the natural beauty and to share in simple pleasures like hiking and berry picking that became family traditions. Because of this, generations were able to enjoy “Camp Burleigh” on Androscoggin, as well as family trips to Popham Beach State Park and family climbs up Mount Washington in the White Mountains.
Bruce would later take his love of mountains to the next level, summitting peaks worldwide, including Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mt. Elbrus in Russia, Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina, Mt. Whitney in California, and Mt. Katahdin in Maine.
In 1969, Bruce relocated to Oklahoma City to complete an Orthopedic Surgery Residency at the University of Oklahoma. He then joined Joplin Orthopedics in Joplin, Missouri. He performed surgery for over 25 years, specializing in hip and knee replacements. Bruce dedicated many years of his career to Freeman Health System, eventually serving as Director of the Physical Rehabilitation Unit. At Freeman Bruce established life-long friendships and loved the Freeman Community.
After his retirement, Bruce and Susan became summer residents of Wayne, Maine where Bruce served as Board Member and Commodore of the Androscoggin Yacht Club, promoting and preserving community access to one of the longest-running waterfront clubs in the country. Bruce and Susan also provided support to the Carey Memorial Library and to various projects for the historical preservation society of Wayne. In Joplin, they provided support for the arts throughout the years, and most recently to the Cornell Arts and Entertainment Center.
A New Englander at heart, Bruce loved his New England Patriots. He enjoyed gardening, landscaping, coin collecting and reading. An avid history buff, he was always reading a book and up for a lively discussion. Bruce was a founding member of the Frantic Investors Club in Joplin, where he valued the friendships made more than the investments. He never tired of hearing Neil Diamond. He loved hunting with his sons, fishing with his friends and attending his grandchildren’s many soccer games. Beloved as “Papa Bruce,” he brought endless smiles to his grandchildren, whom he adored. He spoiled them with a steady supply of treats including ice cream and his (in)famous blueberry crumble.
Bruce is survived by his loving wife Susan, who cared devotedly and tirelessly for him and their family, especially over the last year. He is survived by children Matthew Wentworth Burleigh (Anne) of Leawood, KS, Jonathan Earl Burleigh of Altamont, KS, Bryce Alan Burleigh of Tulsa, OK, Nicholas Christopher Thach (Christy) of Webster Grove, MO, and Lauren Grace Melroy (Seth) of North Wales, PA. He is survived by his brother Keith of Fitchburg, WI. He is also survived by his grandchildren Hayden, Garrett, Paige, Grace, Addison, Katherine, Madeleine, William, Olivia, Kamryn and Amelia, and by a granddaughter joyfully anticipated in June of 2023.
He will be forever loved and missed by his family.
Thank you, Papa Bruce.
Services for Bruce will be held on Wednesday December 28, 2022 at St. Philips Episcopal Church in Joplin MO. Visitation will occur at the Parish Hall from 10-11:15 am. The service will begin at 11:30 am in the Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.
In 1969, Bruce relocated to Oklahoma City to complete an Orthopedic Surgery Residency at the University of Oklahoma. He then joined Joplin Orthopedics in Joplin, Missouri. He performed surgery for over 25 years, specializing in hip and knee replacements. Bruce dedicated many years of his career to Freeman Health System, eventually serving as Director of the Physical Rehabilitation Unit. At Freeman Bruce established life-long friendships and loved the Freeman Community.
After his retirement, Bruce and Susan became summer residents of Wayne, Maine where Bruce served as Board Member and Commodore of the Androscoggin Yacht Club, promoting and preserving community access to one of the longest-running waterfront clubs in the country. Bruce and Susan also provided support to the Carey Memorial Library and to various projects for the historical preservation society of Wayne. In Joplin, they provided support for the arts throughout the years, and most recently to the Cornell Arts and Entertainment Center.
A New Englander at heart, Bruce loved his New England Patriots. He enjoyed gardening, landscaping, coin collecting and reading. An avid history buff, he was always reading a book and up for a lively discussion. Bruce was a founding member of the Frantic Investors Club in Joplin, where he valued the friendships made more than the investments. He never tired of hearing Neil Diamond. He loved hunting with his sons, fishing with his friends and attending his grandchildren’s many soccer games. Beloved as “Papa Bruce,” he brought endless smiles to his grandchildren, whom he adored. He spoiled them with a steady supply of treats including ice cream and his (in)famous blueberry crumble.
Bruce is survived by his loving wife Susan, who cared devotedly and tirelessly for him and their family, especially over the last year. He is survived by children Matthew Wentworth Burleigh (Anne) of Leawood, KS, Jonathan Earl Burleigh of Altamont, KS, Bryce Alan Burleigh of Tulsa, OK, Nicholas Christopher Thach (Christy) of Webster Grove, MO, and Lauren Grace Melroy (Seth) of North Wales, PA. He is survived by his brother Keith of Fitchburg, WI. He is also survived by his grandchildren Hayden, Garrett, Paige, Grace, Addison, Katherine, Madeleine, William, Olivia, Kamryn and Amelia, and by a granddaughter joyfully anticipated in June of 2023.
He will be forever loved and missed by his family.
Thank you, Papa Bruce.
Services for Bruce will be held on Wednesday December 28, 2022 at St. Philips Episcopal Church in Joplin MO. Visitation will occur at the Parish Hall from 10-11:15 am. The service will begin at 11:30 am in the Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.
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