C. Michael Burkhardt ’59

The Great Class of 1959 can boast of two music majors, one of whom was Mike. He developed a deep interest in music in his early teens that continued throughout his life. He had extensive knowledge of the musical repertoire, regularly attended musical performances, and rarely missed a broadcast of the Saturday opera. He composed musical pieces and played cello in a string quartet. His interests were nonetheless varied. In addition to writing his thesis at Princeton on the music of Franz Schubert, he ran freshman track, joined Dial, and was active in IAA competitions, being a three-time winner of the intramural 880-yard track medal. Sports and photography rounded out his interests.

Prior to Princeton, Mike attended the McCallie School in Chattanooga, where he was a member of the Cum Laude Society and ran track and cross country. Following Princeton, he earned master’s degrees in education from the University of North Carolina and in music from Florida State University. He taught junior high school mathematics in Florida while caring for his parents, then moved to Los Angeles, where he was a librarian for the Los Angeles Public Library for 20 years. 

Upon retirement in 2003 he moved to Eugene, Ore., where he died Dec. 31, 2021.