William "Bill" Burges

WILLIAM L. BURGES, age 77, died peacefully and unexpectedly on October 27, 2024 while walking with his rescue dog and faithful companion, Maxwell. Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife and business partner, Charlene (née Moskal), his sister Ann, and his parents, Yetta and Joseph Burges. He is survived by his son from a previous marriage to Nancy Burges, Joel Burges of Rochester, NY, his brother Bob (and wife Blanca) of Harrisburg, NC, a niece and four nephews.

Dr. Bill Burges was an icon and a difference maker. His hard-earned reputation as the state’s leading political strategist was only second to his notoriety for being a truth teller and driver of community change. Bill’s final moments were spent doing what he loved: walking with his beloved dog, Maxwell, along Lake Erie.

Born to immigrant parents in the Bronx, New York and raised in Dumont, New Jersey, Bill’s East Coast accent often snuck into conversations, sometimes punctuating his “colorful language.” Bill was a student-athlete and excelled at cross country, track and basketball, earning multiple scholarships and college offers. Bill fell in love with Maine after hiking the Appalachian Trail, which strongly influenced his decision to attend Colby College for his bachelor's degree. Bill ran the NYC and Boston Marathons and was an avid fan of horseracing. His office was adorned with pictures of Afleet Alex and Secretariat.

Bill began his career as a public school teacher in Brockton, Mass. and proudly served as president of the teachers’ union. He taught history and government and directed the community service program. Eager to ensure that his students had after-school options, he urged city officials to revitalize the public parks and he succeeded. While teaching, Bill attended night school to earn a master’s degree and a doctorate in education from Boston University. 

Later, he served as the VP for Development, Dean of Instruction, and Director of Strategic Planning at Cuyahoga Community College, where he met Charlene, his wife and business partner for 40 years. He helped coin the Tri-C catchphrase “Where Futures Begin.” Along with Charlene, he helped design the media center and television recording studio. He established the Burges Family Scholarship Fund in memory of his mother, and through that helped countless students begin their future and reach their goals. Bill was a tireless advocate for Tri-C and led nearly 20 levy campaigns to fund the programs that prepared our region’s workforce. 

In 1983, after the Cleveland Schools had failed multiple attempts at the ballot, Bill was asked to lead the campaign. His ability to coalesce civic and community leaders around the slogan “Our Schools Are Worth Investing In” resulted in the schools’ first levy passage in 20 years. It also launched Bill and Charlene’s business: Burges & Burges Strategists.

Bill truly enjoyed his work. In his 41-year career as a political strategist, he had an impact on organizations and leaders all over Ohio. He lived by a quote from Star Wars, his favorite movie, “Do or do not. There is no try.” He had a remarkable gift for finding solutions to problems, creating strategies to overcome challenges, and empowering people to implement the plans.

We have Bill to thank for BILLIONS of dollars in funding for public schools, community colleges, libraries, parks, human services, and transit systems all over Ohio. He helped bring universal Pre-K to Dayton and Cincinnati. He helped bring the Rock Hall to Cleveland, revitalize Playhouse Square and craft the Cleveland Plan that is still improving education in CMSD. He developed the funding stream for Lake County’s Metro Parks and LAKETRAN. Bill framed the Lorain County Community College’s University Partnership, Ohio’s first such venture and a model for others, to make bachelor’s and advanced degrees accessible to students. Bill helped change legislation to allow Columbus State and, subsequently, other community colleges to pass bond issues to upgrade facilities to train today’s workforce. He was instrumental in helping transform the Summit Court of Common Pleas bench to all women and all democrats.

Bill answered every call he received, and because of that, he received many calls. From members of Congress to mayors across the state to Ohio Supreme Court Justices, people relied on him for his straight talk, reasoned counsel and practical advice. He was a problem solver.

However, an enduring legacy will be the “Burges grads,” as he referred to the many former employees, who continue to improve their communities as they serve and lead all types of organizations all over the world. Bill didn’t just have a knack for finding young talent, he deliberately sought out people, taught them, nurtured them and championed them to grow into the promise he saw in them - even when they didn’t see it themselves. An educator at heart, Bill was immensely proud of his son’s many academic accomplishments, including earning his doctorate and becoming Associate Professor of English and Visual and Cultural Studies at the University of Rochester.

Bill had a profound influence on everyone he met and a greater impact on many people who will never know him. We should all endeavor to be more like Bill - a fearless leader, problem solver, community transformer and change creator. 

To continue Bill’s impact through education, you may wish to contribute to: Burges Family Fund (Cuyahoga Community College Foundation, 700 Carnegie Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44115); Bill and Charlene Burges Graduate Scholarship Fund (Boston University, Metropolitan College, 1010 Commonwealth Ave, 5th Floor, Boston, MA, 02215); Lorain County Community College Foundation (1005 Abbe Road N, Elyria Ohio, 44035); or the Sinclair College Foundation (444 W. Third Street, Dayton, Ohio, 45402).

A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be on FRIDAY DECEMBER 6th, 2024 from 2:00 until 4:00pm with TRIBUTE SERVCIE beginning at 2:30pm at Corporate College East, 4400 Richmond Rd, Warrensville Heights, OH. Private Burial in Lake View Cemetery. Arrangements by DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS.