Robert C. Burroughs

Former UA professor Robert C. Burroughs, who was well known for his commitment to students and the Tucson community, died Sunday of natural causes. He was 83.

Burroughs arrived at the UA in 1947 and became the head of the drama department in 1978, a position he held for 15 years.

He played an instrumental role along with Peter Marroney in developing the UA theater program, said Maurice Sevigny, dean of the College of Fine Arts.

Burroughs taught scene design, directed plays and designed sets at the UA. As a director and set designer, he had his name attached to 200 productions.

"He looked at the total picture of theater," Sevigny said.

But Burroughs was more than a director and a designer, he was someone who always reached out to and remembered his students.

He was a teacher who kept all his grade books, from 1947 until his retirement, said Al Tucci, who succeeded Burroughs as department head.

Burroughs also did extensive outreach to the Tucson community, Tucci said.

Fifteen years ago, he founded a theater arts advisory board to bring in members of the community to support the program.

"He got people to work together and support the arts," Tucci said. "He did a lot of outreach and made sure the community came to campus."

Burroughs graduated from Hanover College in 1943. He received his master's in fine arts from the University of Iowa and did post-graduate work at Cornell University. He served in the army's Special Service during World War II.

Burroughs is survived by his wife, Patricia Genematas-Burroughs; two sons, Robert and Christopher; and grandchildren, Danielle Burroughs and Nicholas Trivigno, all of Tucson.

The memorial service will be held today at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle, 5150 N. Valley View Road.