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GARIN BURBANK
Born: Apr 14, 1940
Date of Passing: Mar 12, 2025
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryGARIN BURBANK
Garin Burbank died on March 12, 2025, from the effects of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was 84 years old.
Professor Burbank was born in Atchison, Kansas, on April 14, 1940. He liked to joke that he and Amelia Earhart were the most famous persons to come from Atchison. He grew up in San Mateo, CA, with an interlude of two years in Yokohama, Japan. But Berkeley and the University of California in the 1960s were fundamentally formative in his growth as a research scholar and teacher. He received all three of his degrees from UC Berkeley.
Garin's first published article, at age 30, appeared in the premiere journal in his field: The Journal of American History. Because he wanted at some point to write on a world-historical figure, he had four articles accepted in west coast journals on Ronald Reagan and his opponents when he was Governor of California. Those pieces attempted to show the political roots of Reagan's later rise as a national leader and international figure and theorized that Reagan's concern for "moral decency" would become a potent cultural symbol and a winning political signature that would become his greatest personal legacy.
He took great pride in his teaching duties as a professor of history at the University of Winnipeg from 1973 until 2012. Winnipeggers who had contact with "prof b" (as he signed his emails) in the classrooms found that he was strictly "old school" in requiring good academic manners; wishing to emphasize the importance of the task at hand, he almost always wore a coat and tie to class. In personal interactions, students were surprised to find prof b a gentler figure that cared deeply about their development (and was almost too generous in granting deadline extensions). Working in a large department, he respected the efforts of his colleagues even when he disagreed with them, which he temperately did.
Set beside his academic duties, however, was his deep devotion to his sons, John, now a chemical engineer in Germany, and Paul, a lawyer in Toronto. He worked until age 72 to support their completion of graduate studies. Together with Helen, a super shopper and tireless source of domestic efficiency (who always made his life so much easier), they sent their sons out to the wide world.
Garin's happiest hours were spent on the ball fields of River Heights, teaching John and Paul to play the game he himself played so well in high school and university in California (Garin often joked that the fast-pitch softball season in which he went 18 for 36 and had five homeruns for the History graduate team was as vivid in his memory as any academic achievement). Other parents often remarked that Garin preferred to watch and absorb the boys' games alone from the outfield; Helen made enough noise for both of them behind home plate. Once it came time to teach the beloved grandchildren, Louisa, Franz, and Odin to play ball, he shipped a big box of equipment to Mannheim so that John could start teaching his children about the beautiful game. The two generations of his family always were more important to Garin than career ambitions.
Garin's toughness was on full display in his final years and months. Unaware of the extent of damage to his lungs caused by pulmonary fibrosis, he swam 1000 metres a day at age 83. His last public appearance saw him deliver a speech, to great applause, at Paul's wedding in Toronto, a feat his doctors were later shocked to learn he performed without supplemental oxygen.
Garin was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary. He is survived by his wife Helen, his sons, John and Paul (Amanda), his grandchildren, Louisa, Odin, and Franz, and by a brother, Rob, of Sacramento, CA.
In his last days and hours Garin reflected on his immense good fortune in being accepted as a new Canadian, a good neighbour and coach in River Heights, and a valued faculty member in an excellent small university like UW.
Garin's ashes will be scattered in some of his favourite places in the world: on "The Bluff" in Yokohama; in the centre of Berlin; and by the wind over the Assiniboine River near the Wellington ball fields and the sandbar he saw every weekday morning as he walked to and from work. Perhaps because he was born on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River, he loved reading about famous rivers everywhere and wished to be at peace in his favourite river at home.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Winnipeg. Donations in Garin's name can be made to a Ukrainian refugee family relief services charity of your choice.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 26, 2025
Condolences & Memories (15 entries)
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I am terribly sorry to hear of Professor Burbank’s passing, and would like to express my condolences to his family. ‘Prof B’ (I remember that so well) was a huge influence on me as a young man studying history at the U of W. His US Civil War seminar was and remains a formative experience in my life. The stories he shared with us, of Kansas, his life in California, radical Berkeley and finally his coming to western Canada were thrilling, funny, and full of meaning. It was in every way a real and true education. When I think on President Lincoln, I think of Garin Burbank. - Posted by: Stephen Grandpre (Former student at the U of W) on: Sep 08, 2025
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I was deeply saddened to hear of Professor Burbank’s passing. I took his History of the Cold War course as a first-year student at the University of Winnipeg in the early 1990s. As someone who was conservative by U of W standards, I truly appreciated his thoughtful and like-minded perspective in an environment where that would have been difficult to express. Professor Burbank was always open-minded, fair, and generous with his time. His office hours were welcoming, and he was committed to helping each student succeed. That course ignited my lifelong passion for history, and I have incredibly fond memories of his lectures and his kindness. His family should know that he left a legacy far beyond his published work – he shaped his students’ lives in ways that carried forward for decades. I will always remember him with gratitude and respect. - Posted by: Dave (Student) on: Jul 07, 2025
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I took I think 3 history classes with Garin at U of W between 1983-85. My friends and I used to argue with his contrarian (for U of W) political views, but over time we turned from thinking he was nuts because of his "crazy" opinions to respecting and liking the man for his civility and kindness, even if we still didn't agree with his views. I will also remember him for teaching the phrase "don't throw out the baby with the bathwater". The first time he used it, I think in reference to Nixon, we all looked at each other and then laughed. I hadn't seen Garin for a number of years,but one of my colleagues kept in reasonably close touch with him. Out of over a hundred plus university professors that taught me Garin stood out and always was remembered. Thanks for the memories Garin and condolences to the family. - Posted by: Jon van der Krabben (Former Student) on: May 05, 2025
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I just learned the passing of Professor Garin Burbank. When I joined the History Department of the University of Winnipeg in 2003 and started to teach Islamic/Middle Eastern History, Garin was the professor of American History there. Very soon we developed a good and amicable relation. I think he always liked and supported me. Equally, I liked him and appreciated his vast knowledge on history, his humour and his wisdom. Today I was saddened with the news of his passing. Garin was a great friend, colleague and scholar. He will be thoroughly missed. God bless his soul. Ahmet Seyhun - Posted by: Ahmet Seyhun (Colleague) on: Apr 29, 2025
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I knew Garin first at the University of Regina in the 70’s and then for thirty years at UWinnipeg. He was, unfailingly, a convivial and collegial citizen of the academic community and a serious student and scholar of American history. He was an invaluable member of the History Department and a passionate and principled teacher. I felt fortunate to know him. My deep sympathies to his family. - Posted by: Neil Besner (Colleague) on: Apr 28, 2025
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I received the sad news of Garin's passing today. I remember him as a kind and gentle man with a deep devotion to his teaching and his students. He was one of the favourites of my daughter, Andrea, and she often told tales of his classes at family dinners. In reading the story of his life, I see that he was also a very accomplished yet humble man--one who never missed the opportunity to support and encourage me as a younger colleague. He made a difference, and he will be missed. My condolences to his much-loved family. - Posted by: Laura Sokal (Colleague) on: Apr 28, 2025
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I just learned of his passing most recently, it has saddened me. I met Garin 2011 when he taught his American history course at the University of Winnipeg in our on campus TV Studio, where his Son Paul had once been a on camera student personality in a history department colleague's class. Garin was a revelation of talent, his personality and ease of relatability with students was eye opening for the Studio crew, we enjoyed working with him for two wonderful terms before his retirement. Upon retirement I occasionally run into Dr. Burbank at the Faculty Club, or a public lecture I was attending, he was witty and friendly and remembered all interactions we had, he truly was one of the best of us at the University of Winnipeg and so to in life. - Posted by: Will Jerome Jones (Staff colleague) on: Apr 28, 2025
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It was an honour and a privilege to be a student in several of Professor Burbank's U.S. history courses. His insights continue to shape my understanding of that country and the darkening world we live in now. There are many warm memories I have, but the one I think of today is when, in the middle of a lecture on religion in early America, he sang a verse or two of the Shaker song Simple Gifts with tears in his eyes. "And when we find ourselves in the place just right / ‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight." Rest in peace, Prof B. - Posted by: Robert Galston (Student) on: Apr 28, 2025
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Condolences to Helen, John, Paul and family. Garin lived his life with integrity and honor. He shaped the minds of his students. I am sure many became academic scholars like himself. He was a very nice man and a good swimmer. We didn't know he came from Kansas! - Posted by: Andrea and David O'Connor (Friend) on: Apr 28, 2025
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Helen, I was so sorry to read of Garin's passing in the Free Press. He was such a friendly, caring member of the History Department and for his students. I remember him talking of baseball in his younger years and was such a good player of the History Dept. team when we played baseball (many years ago). I have so many fond memories of him and his compassion for you and the boys. I give you all my deepest sympathy and happy to read about your boys. Cherish all those memories. (I have been a widow for 7 years and hope that you can move on with life now that he is gone - it takes time). - Posted by: Linda Gladstone (friend and former History Dept. Secretary)) on: Apr 27, 2025
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To Helen, the boys and grandchildren: my deeply felt condolences on Garin's passing. I have very fond memories of him as a colleague from 1996 when I joined the Department of History as Chair in Mennonite Studies, till his retirement, which preceded my own by 8 years. My Ph.D. dissertation had compared a Mennonite community in Kansas with one in Manitoba and the Kansas connection was a frequent source of jesting and fun. I remember impressing him that my research had taken me to overnight in Manhattan one year, that is, Manhattan, Kansas. I recall him sardonically commenting after an early department meeting where I had held forth that evidently I was junior enough to have significant social capital in the department. When my own son, majoring in biology at U of W asked me which history course he should take, I told him that if he really wanted to learn something he should in enrolling in Burbank's US history course; Sasha now works as an agronomist at U of M and still cites Garin. All the best as you as a family build on Garin's memories and his beautiful legacy of decency, hard work, keeping fit and engaging his multi-generational family. Royden Loewen - Posted by: Royden Loewen (colleague) on: Apr 27, 2025
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Garin was impossible not to like. An easygoing contrarian with a perpetual Cheshire-cat smile, he had the courage to be an unwavering conservative in a sea of social democrats. I often shared an introductory course with him which gave students the opportunity to see American history through two radically different lenses. Garin and Helen's wedding reception at the Fort Garry Hotel was the best history department party in the last 50 years. - Posted by: Bruce C Daniels (Friend and Colleague) on: Apr 26, 2025
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Garin’s passing has surprised and devastated me. It was as recently as late September that I visited him in Ottawa. We ambled gently through the downtown to his favourite cafe for brunch. Yes, in character it was elegant and sophisticated. We had connected closely in the last few years, indulging our mutual regard for each other’s political opinions. I admired Garin as a scholar of prodigious learning and reading, I admired equally his trenchant criticism of political dogmatism and partisanship. He was a beautiful soul whom I am privileged to have known. - Posted by: Allen Mills (Friend and colleague) on: Apr 26, 2025
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I knew Garin first at the University of Regina in the seventies, and then for 30 years as a valued colleague at the University of Winnipeg. He was unfailingly cheerful and unfailingly principled; we disagreed on academic matters at times, but he was never anything but generous and kind -- and a perpetual delight on the softball field! My deep sympathies to his family. - Posted by: Neil Besner (Colleague at U of Winnipeg) on: Apr 26, 2025
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Garin was a great teacher and friend. My condolences go out to his family and friends. - Posted by: Ralph Smith (Friend and student) on: Apr 26, 2025