Landon C. Burns, longtime Penn State instructor
Landon C. "Don" Burns, 80, of Drexel Hill, a professor of English for 20 years at Pennsylvania State University-Brandywine, died of cancer Thursday, April 15, at Haverford Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
Landon C. "Don" Burns, 80, of Drexel Hill, a professor of English for 20 years at Pennsylvania State University-Brandywine, died of cancer Thursday, April 15, at Haverford Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
Dr. Burns joined the faculty of the Penn State campus in Delaware County in 1969, two years after it opened.
When he retired, his colleagues praised him as a "gentleman and a scholar."
"During Don's last years of teaching, an era of encroaching casual attire by students and faculty, Don wore a jacket and tie to every class," said George W. Franz, who was director of campus academic affairs. "He addressed his students as mister and miss, not by first name, yet this touch of formality merged seamlessly with his gentle, patient, soft-spoken manner."
Dr. Burns donated hundreds of books to the campus library. He was author of numerous articles published in scholarly journals, and in 1996 he published Pat Conroy, A Critical Companion. The book recently became available electronically on Amazon's Kindle reader.
Conroy, a Southern narrative writer, is well known for his biographical novels including The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides, and The Lords of Discipline.
Dr. Burns grew up in Westminster, Md., and graduated from St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Del. He earned a bachelor's degree from Yale University.
During the Korean War he served in the Navy and was stationed aboard the heavy cruiser Albany. After his discharge, he returned to Yale and earned a master's degree and doctorate in English literature.
For nine years he taught at the University of Pennsylvania and then was a dean and provost at Washington College in Chestertown, Md., for two years.
A lifelong devotee of the arts, Dr. Burns was a patron of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and the Metropolitan Opera. He volunteered at the Helen Kate Furness Free Library in Wallingford.
He is survived by his companion of 44 years, Russell Fulton; and a cousin.
A memorial is planned for midsummer. Dr. Burns donated his body to science. Donations may be made to the Landon C. Burns Scholarship Fund, Pennsylvania State University Brandywine Campus, Office of Development, 25 Yearsley Mill Rd., Media, Pa. 19063.
