Dr. Alphonse R. Burdi, age 79, of Ann Arbor died peacefully on Feb. 4.
Burdi was born Aug. 28, 1935, in Chicago to Alfonso and Anna Burdi. He graduated from Austin High School in Chicago and went on to earn his undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University in 1957, a master’s degree from the University of Illinois in 1959 and his Ph.D. in human anatomy from the University of Michigan in 1963, receiving full professorship in 1974.
Burdi was proud to receive the university’s AMOCO Outstanding Teaching Award and be appointed the medical director of the university’s Integrated Premedical-Medical Degrees Program (Inteflex), however he was humble about his many achievements and felt that they were never as important as his students and mentees, colleagues say.
Known for his enthusiasm, energy and resourcefulness by athletes, medical, dental and undergraduate students, his deep commitment to students awarded him appointments to the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs, the Board in Control of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Medical Center Alumni Association. He proudly received the honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Athens, Greece in 2000, the University Distinguished Faculty Governance Award in 2002, the Medical Center Alumni Society’s Distinguished Service Award in 2003, honorary membership in the Michigan Women’s Athletic Association in 2001, and a honorary “M” letter in recognition of his love and passion for Michigan athletics.
Burdi was past president of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, the Craniofacial Biology Group of the International Association for Dental Research and the combined BA/MD programs of the Association of American Medical Schools. His success brought him appointments to NIH grant review panels, national scientific planning task forces and the University institutional Research Board. He authored more than 275 books, scientific papers and chapters in his field of craniofacial abnormalities and embryonic development. He was passionate about his involvement in the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor in which he proudly served as president in 2007-2008.
He was a genuine and caring man, a wonderful husband, a loving father a fun “Papa” and great friend to many. Even with his successes, Burdi firmly held that the three best gifts ever in his life were his wife daughters and grandchildren.
Burdi is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sandy; his daughters, Beth (Mike) Jurczak of Canton, and Sarah (Steven) Brandt of Hong Kong; and five adoring grandchildren, Grace, Christopher and Nicholas Jurczak and Owen and Cooper Brandt who will greatly miss their “Papa.” He will also be missed by his many extended family members and friends.
A mass of the Christian Burial was held Feb. 9 in Ann Arbor. Memorials may be made to the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor Endowment Fund and to the Multiple Myeloma Program at the U-M Cancer Center.
— Submitted by Lori Longeway
