Statement from President J.B. Buxton on the passing of Durham Tech Board Chair John Burness

John Burness, Chair of the Durham Technical Community College Board of Trustees, died on Monday, December 19, at the age of 77. 

President J.B. Buxton issued the following statement:  

“John Burness was a big personality with big ambitions for Durham Tech. He believed deeply in the College’s ability to make a difference for the residents of Durham and Orange counties. His leadership at both Duke University and Durham Tech reflected his commitment to leveraging the power of institutions to improve people’s lives and create a more beloved community.  

He was proud of what he saw as a very talented and committed board of trustees; he understood our community was fortunate to have such talented and caring faculty and staff; and he had a heart for the students of Durham Tech. 

He exuded warmth and was a respected and much-loved figure in this community – known for his charm and quick wit. He loved his family, Duke basketball, and the New York Yankees. Durham Tech will miss his leadership and I will miss his friendship.” 

Burness was a member of the Durham Tech Board of Trustees from 2009 – 2022, chairing the board since 2017. He spent 40 years in higher education, 17 as the senior vice president for public affairs and government relations at Duke University where he served three presidents. He was vice president for university relations at Cornell University and held senior public affairs positions at the University of Illinois, and Stony Brook University. He also served as the interim president of Franklin and Marshall College, his alma mater. 

Burness helped build Duke into both an institution of national prominence and one committed deeply to Durham. Under his leadership, the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership was created in 1996, which worked to increase home ownership, educational opportunities, and access to health care for residents across Durham.  

He is survived by his wife Anne Williams; son Evan and daughter-in-law Katie and their children Calvin and Ozzie; son Sam and daughter-in-law Danielle and their children Cameron and Isabella; brother Andrew and sister-in-law Hope and their children Alex and Molly; brother-in-law Michael Sundman his children Graham and Susanna and great-nieces and great-nephews.