It is with great sadness that I tell you our dear friend, Tom Burnham, died on Monday, May 6th at Tampa General Hospital. During his Robinson years, Tom graduated in the Class of 1963. He was an outstanding Basketball player, very active in all things Robinson, and a friend to everyone! There will be a service honoring Tom in June. More information will follow when plans are finalized.

In the words of his wonderful wife , Beverly Couch Burnham:
"My husband of not quite five years, Tom, passed away yesterday afternoon. He became ill suddenly and after a couple of days, drove himself to the ER. He was admitted with pneumonia. This was on Friday, the 26th. Sunday, they moved him to ICU. Tuesday morning at 6am he coded and it took them almost 20 minutes to get him back. He was on a ventilator and in CCU a short time later. He never regained consciousness, although he waged a valiant fight over the next six days, succumbing to multiple organ and systems failures. His 3 children were here and together we consulted with and stood vigil while the myriad physicians of various disciplines gave him every known and progressive new therapy only to be thwarted time and again. We are still in shock, hardly knowing how or why this could have happened.";
Please keep Beverly in your Hearts and Prayers.

Obituary
John Thomas Burnham, 73, passed away Monday, May 6, 2019 following a sudden illness and hospitalization. He is predeceased by his parents, Dr. Thomas Rufie Burnham and Leola Marguerite DeArmond Burnham. Tom is survived by his wife, Beverly; brother, Tim; two daughters, Lisa (Chuck) White, Brooke (Andy) Wilson; one son Doug (Missy) Burnham and seven grandchildren, Isabel & Julia White, Caleb, Joshua & Lucy Wilson and Parker & Anna Burnham.
Tom was born on July 31, 1945, in Muroc, CA and raised in Lake Village, AR. At age 14, his mother moved him and Tim to Tampa with her. He attended Robinson High School and excelled in basketball. Tom graduated in 1963 as the Senior Class President among an exceptional group of people, many of whom remain friends to this day. He served in Army Intelligence in Vietnam; received his BA from Indiana University and his MA from Webster College while living in St. Louis. In 1974, Tom began his career in federal law enforcement as a Postal Inspector. He spent the majority of his career in Indianapolis and retired from the Seattle, WA office when he then moved back to Tampa.
Tom was involved in the Indianapolis local community theater for many years and was cast in the movie “Spirit Canyon” which was filmed while he was living in Seattle. He also participated in several writing workshops. Tom loved the arts and collected many pieces throughout his travels. He also competed in the Postal Inspection Service softball league where he found great success as a switch hitter.
Tom fiercely loved his family. Despite living long distance, he was always sure to attend holiday and family events; he made being involved in his children’s and grandchildren’s lives a priority. Tom was a curious person and loved people; he loved the outdoors and especially being on the water. Tom loved to dance, never met a ketchup bottle he didn’t like and enjoyed starting each day with a Starbuck’s Frappuccino.
Visitation will begin at 10:30 AM on Monday, June 3, 2019, with a Memorial Service to follow at Brewer & Sons Funeral Home at 3328 South Dale Mabry in Tampa. Following the service, you are invited to join the procession to the Florida National Cemetery where Tom’s cremains will be interred in a Veteran’s Columbarium with honors. A gathering of family and friends will be held, following interment, at the Burnham home.
Family requests expressions of sympathy in the form of donations to Moffitt Cancer Center in honor of Tom via this link http://www.moffitt.org/give.