Burton W. Longenbach

Burton W. Longenbach, 95, died peacefully in Peabody, MA, on December 1, 2021.

Born in Northampton, PA, Burt graduated with the class of ’43 from Northampton High School.  His college years at Kutztown University were interrupted by serving two years in the Army in India and China during WWII after which he was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant.  Upon returning home, he continued his education, receiving his BS from Kutztown University in Art Education and a MA in Fine Arts Education from Columbia University.  He began employment with Cranford Public Schools (NJ) in 1949 as a teacher of art and retired from Cranford 39 years later, as Supervisor of Related Arts K-12, a position combining both fine and industrial arts.

Burt was a talented and prolific artist.  His passion was landscape painting in oil or watercolor, but his many talents ranged from calligraphy to printing to stage scenery and parade floats, and in later years, portrait painting.  In 2000 he was awarded the highest ‘Silver Medal of Honor’ from the NJ Watercolor Society where he is a Lifetime Member and in 2002 ‘Best in Show’ at the Member Juried Show of the NJ Chapter of the American Artists Professional League.  He was a Signature Member of the New England Watercolor Society.  Upon his move to Linden Ponds (a retirement community in Hingham, MA) he taught a weekly watercolor painting class to the delight of the residents, which he continued until he was 92.  Burt enjoyed using his creative talents to bring people together on group art projects and to support his local community.

Burt was the beloved husband of his high school sweetheart, the late Alda (Wieder) Longenbach, with whom he celebrated 61 years of marriage, and the son of the late Mabel I. (Smoyer) and Warren J. Longenbach.  He is survived by his daughter Pamela and her husband Thomas Kannally of Northborough, MA, his son James and his wife Joanna Scott of Rochester, NY, two grandchildren, Kathryn and her fiancé Marc DiBenedetto and Alice Longenbach, and many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his brothers Merion H. Longenbach, Foster G. Longenbach, and Karl J. Longenbach.

Donations in Burt’s memory may be made to the New Jersey Watercolor Society  or to your local arts center.