Allan Wyman Burgess, 96, a longtime educator and resident of Kennebunk, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, at Huntington Common following a period of failing health.
Allan was born just across the Route 1 bridge on the family farm in Arundel on March 16, 1926, the son of Arthur Fairfield Burgess and Elsie Naomi Wyman Burgess, and is a graduate of Kennebunk High School. At the age of 18 he was drafted into the US Army and served until the end of World War II.
Returning to Maine, Allan earned his bachelor’s degree in forestry at the University of Maine in Orono. Allan worked in the lumber industry for several years, operating his own sawmill on the Kennebunk River across from the family farm.
In the early ’60s he began his teaching career as director of the cooperative education program at Kennebunk High School. During his tenure there he also enjoyed teaching advanced art. He furthered his education attending Boston University in the early ’70s, earning his master’s degree in media and technology at Boston University. Upon completion of his degree, he was hired by BU as a professor and director of the Instructional Materials Center in the School of Education, a position he enjoyed for over 10 years until his retirement.
Allan enjoyed working in the woods as a lumberjack at his beloved mountain property in Brownfield, Maine.
As a master furniture designer and builder, he was known for his quality handmade furniture, and was honored by Fine Woodworking magazine for a wall cabinet that he had made. He was also a fine artist, working in pencil and charcoal drawing, watercolor and oils, and had a keen eye for photography, in addition to his woodworking skills.
In his retirement, Allan really enjoyed weekend “yard-saling,” searching for forgotten treasures. At the end of the day, he always enjoyed his “Oh, be joyful martini happy hour” with family and friends.
Allan’s family wants to acknowledge the staff of his home away from home for the past three-plus years at Huntington Common, for the excellent care given to him. They have become a second family to him.
Allan is predeceased by his dear wife Eva Larrison Burgess, his three younger siblings and his son Scott Burgess.
Survivors include his daughters, Pamela Burgess of Kennebunk, and Deborah Batten and her husband Zandy Talmage of Kennebunkport, his five grandchildren, Max and Alex Talmage, Mimi and Jade MacKilligan, and Zak Burgess, to whom he was known affectionately as Pa, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many close friends.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Kennebunk Land Trust, 6 Brown St., Suite 2, Kennebunk, ME 04043.
To leave a message of condolence, please visit ’s book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk.
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