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Hunter College Mourns the Loss of Distinguished Professors Richard Burke and Tom Head

Hunter College Mourns the Loss of Distinguished Professors Richard Burke and Tom Head

From left, distinguished professors Richard Burke (Photo by Joshua Bright/New York Times) and Tom Head

The Hunter Community is saddened by the passing of two distinguished professors who were key members of the College and noted experts in their fields - Richard Burke and Tom Head.

Richard Burke, 65, was a talented composer of operas, ballet music, songs and scores for television documentaries. He died on Friday, November 8.

Richard was a true Hunter product, receiving both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the College in 1969 and 1973, respectively, before earning his doctorate at the CUNY Graduate Center. He began his Hunter teaching career in 1986. He was equally knowledgeable about all forms of music - from a Marenzio madrigal to Perry Como's rendition of "If I Loved You."

Tom Head, who died in the hospital near his Rhode Island home on Thursday, November 13, was a highly respected and influential scholar, author and editor on the early Middle Ages, a period beginning with the Roman Empire and running through the initial growth of the European economy. He was a supportive, sympathetic and warm-hearted friend to his colleagues, reading their papers with interest and freely offered insights and help. 

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