Robert M. Gurn, librarian and adventurer

The Buffalo News ran a full obituary on my dad this past Tuesday. My good friend Ben helped us draft the points that would entice the News to write the piece, and then he hounded the staff to pick it up. The article is a nice tribute to a great man. The photo is a laugh, a 22-year-old picture from their archives when they ran a story on his mountaineering and librarianship. Despite the "strict" Buffalo News policy to only use obituary pictures within the last 5-10 years, they published a glam-shot from the 80's. As my mom said, "Bob wouldn't have been caught dead in those clothes today!" But man, he was stylin' back then.

Read the obituary

Mountain Man Forever

At midnight on May 29th, Bob died after a courageous battle with cancer. He and my mom were sleeping, holding hands, when he passed. The past few months have been the most difficult I have ever experienced, but the outpouring of support and love from expected and unexpected places gave our family strength.

He will be remembered for the countless things that he quietly did with the utmost care, attention, and skill. I now begin a new journey with the memory of a man that I looked to for support, knowledge, and guidance. Though he is gone, what he taught me, what we learned together remain behind to guide me through what is yet to come.

Friends have asked about donations. Our family has suggested:

Burchfield-Penny Memorial Fund
1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222

Hospice Buffalo
225 Como Park Blvd.
Cheektowaga, NY 14227


Thank you, Pops. I love you.