Alan John Burgess, age 74, of Mint Hill, NC passed away on the morning of December 29th, 2020, succumbing to complications from COVID-19.

A 1964 graduate of Canastota High School, Alan attended Barrington College before enlisting in the US Air Force in 1966. He met and married his eternal sweetheart Kathryn in 1968.

Predeceased by his parents, Rev. Robert and Dorothy Burgess; a brother Ronald; and a daughter Priscilla.

Alan is survived by his loving wife Kathryn of 52 years, and by sons Christopher (wife Anya), Jonathan, Benjamin (wife Julie) and Timothy (wife Rebecca).

Alan was the proud grandfather to 13 grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers: Thomas (wife René), David (spouse Michael) and Mark (wife Nettie); aunt Kay, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

For those who attend in person, face masks will be required and we will be socially distanced in the church building.

The burial will take place at the Salisbury National Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, Alan's wishes were to have donations made to the local Boy Scouts of America, Mecklenburg County Council. Please see below for the donation link and mailing address.

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Alan J. Burgess, LFACHE, FAAMA is board certified in healthcare administration by both the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the American Academy of Medical Administrators (AAMA), where he is also a Past Chairman of the Academy and formerly served 8 years as a member of the Executive Board. He was awarded Life Diplomate status by the AAMA and is a Life Fellow in the ACHE.

Immediately after his graduation from Canastota High School, Alan went to Barrington College in Rhode Island. Two years later, in 1966, he enlisted in the US Air Force, where he served as a medical corpsman. Upon completion of his service, he used the GI Bill to return to college. He earned his Bachelor of Science from the Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah and his Master of Arts in Healthcare Administration from the George Washington University in Washington, DC. While working on his masters, he received a direct commission as an Air Force 2nd Lieutenant and completed his medical administrative residency at the USAF Regional Hospital, Chanute AFB, Illinois. From there his career took him to Incirlik CDI, Adana, Turkey for a two-year tour as a medical squadron section commander and the hospital’s chief financial officer. From there he was selected for a special assignment as Chief of Technical Information and Deputy Director of the Office of the Civilian Health and Medical Program for the Uniformed Services in all of Europe, Africa and the Middle East for the next three years.

When he returned to the US, he was assigned as a member of the Training Evaluation Team at the USAF School of Health Care Sciences at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he was soon selected to serve as the Director of Administration for the School. From there, he was assigned as the Associate Administrator of the US Regional Hospital at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. From there, he was competitively selected for reassignment to the Department of Defense Health Studies Task Force at the Pentagon in Washington DC where he worked in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. After a year in the Pentagon, Alan was offered the opportunity to move to the grounds at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as the Administrator of Repository and Research Services at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. In that position, he oversaw medical research, edited and published the Annual Research Progress Reports for AFIP, and led a department with over 280 employees. He served there for over five years before being reassigned as the Associate Administrator of the USAF Regional Medical Center at Clark Air Base in the Republic of the Philippines. He retired from the Air Force in the summer of 1990 with the rank of Major.

Following his career in the United States Air Force as a Medical Service Corps Officer, he transitioned to the civilian healthcare field. He has been CEO of several small rural hospitals, including two Critical Access Hospitals. While searching for his post-military employment, he returned briefly to Canastota, NY and then moved briefly with his family to South Hamilton, NY where he substitute-taught in the Oneida, Sherrill, and Sherburne-Earleville Central School districts. He moved to Oswego to briefly,head the Oswego County Chapter of the American Red Cross as its executive director, before returning to a healthcare executive position.

He was CEO of the KBH Network, a two-hospital joint-venture in Kingston, NY where he led the startup operation of a brand new clinical laboratory serving the two member hospitals and the surrounding communities. Following that, he was awarded an 18-month personal services contract as the Medicaid Hospital Audit Program Manager for the State of New York. He directed a system of three federally qualified rural health clinics (FQRHCs) serving the Karuk Tribe of California.

Mr. Burgess was hired by the Siskiyou County Public Health Department to help restructure the office and reorganize its functions. Once that was complete, he worked out of his home as an Amway Distributor while his wife was the television station manager for the local cable access television station. While working at home he was recruited to take over the health programs for the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes under a compact between the federal government (Indian Health Service) and the Tribal Nations. For just over four years he was the Tribal Health Administrator/CEO of the critical access hospital on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, serving the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes on the Idaho/Nevada border. From there he returned to California to attempt “retirement.” While he was there, he worked with tribal attorneys to challenge a US Federal District Court ruling. He attended the appeal before the US Supreme Court, where the tribes ultimately won [Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, et al. v. Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al.].

Mr. Burgess was hired by the board and appointed the CEO of the Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District, effective June 1st, 2007. As CEO of the District, Mr. Burgess managed the day-to-day operations of the Tehachapi Hospital and Rural Health Centers in Tehachapi, Mojave and California City. He also presided over the construction of a new, CEQA and seismically compliant, “green field” replacement Critical Access Hospital – budgeted for a total cost of $87 million. Mr. Burgess retired as a full-time healthcare executive on September 20, 2013.

Mr. Burgess joined the American College of Healthcare Executives in 1973 as a student affiliate and has been a member or fellow ever since. Mr. Burgess has been a member of the American Academy of Medical Administrators since 1979, except for a brief period where he attempted “retirement.” When he rejoined the profession, he renewed his affiliation with the AAMA where, as a Fellow, he has served on the board of the American College of Small and Rural Hospitals, on the AAMA Annual Conference Planning Committee, and on the Board of Directors. He served on the Board as the elected Director for Region IV, as the Appointed Director for Professional Advancement, as the Treasurer, Chair-Elect, Chairman and Immediate Past Chair the Academy. He was the 2008 recipient of the Vanguard Award of the AAMA and in 2009 he was recipient of the Richard A. Harley Diplomate of the Year Award for Healthcare Executives.

In 2014 Mr. Burgess was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award by The George Washington University in Washington, District of Columbia. The Alumni Achievement Award is the highest form of recognition given by the university and The George Washington Alumni Association to an alumnus on an annual basis. The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award recognizes the professional achievements of alumni.

Mr. Burgess is also a lifelong Scouter. He joined the Boy Scouts in 1959 and has been actively registered ever since. He earned his Eagle Scout Award with the Eagle Class of 1964 in Canastota. He is a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow and was honored with the Founder’s Award. As District Commissioner for the BSA in the Philippines, he was awarded the Golden Carabao. He earned his Wood Badge beads as a member of the Fox Patrol and has staffed seven Wood Badge courses, including the first Twenty-First Century Wood Badge Course in the Western Region. He has been recognized for his service to youth with the District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award. He has served as a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Unit Commissioner, District Commissioner, a District Chairman, a two-term Council President (in Kingston, NY), and served as the Southern Sierra Council’s Vice President for eight terms in Bakersfield, California. He is currently the Troop Committee Chairman for Troop 515 in the Mecklenburg County Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Matthews, NC. He and his wife, Kathryn, are the proud parents of four sons – all Eagle Scouts.

The son of a Baptist minister, the late Rev. Robert J. Burgess, Jr. and the late Dorothy L. (Cattell) Burgess, Alan left home at 17 to start a pre-seminary education at Barrington College in Barrington, Rhode Island. Disturbed by the school’s approach to scriptural studies and the emphasis on the philosophies of men being mingled with scripture, he left the school and the Baptist Church. After a somewhat soul-searching journey, he wandered the path seeking his own truth though a rocky road that took him from Baptist, to Atheist, Agnostic, Basic Theist, Buddhist and Episcopalian before finding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the “Mormons”). In 1968 he asked to be baptized into that Church and has been extremely active, ever since. He has served in numerous leadership positions in the Church, including as a Counselor in a Branch Presidency in Nevada, as a Bishop in Kingston NY and again as a bishop in Yreka CA, and as a member of the Presidency of the Newburgh NY Stake (similar to an archdiocese). He has taught early-morning seminary, Sunday school, and held various other positions working with children, youth, adults, and in leading music and directing Church choirs.

Although he is now “retired” he still keeps occupied with his latest avocation. He and his wife are a full-time, year-round professional Santa and Mrs. Claus. In the past year alone, they have performed at Breakfast with Santa, Christmas in July for a Salvation Army Shelter’s children in Gastonia, NC, and done home visits for the elderly and needy, Santa-Sing-Alongs with senior centers, volunteered at local charter school fund-raisers, and numerous other events. Alan is also an active member and officer of the local American Legion post.

Alan Burgess has distinguished himself in in a military career spanning 24 years. He further distinguished himself in community service, in health care in general and in rural health care and Critical Access Hospitals serving rural, remote and underserved populations in particular. He has been a volunteer leader of the Boy Scouts for over half a century and earned numerous awards for his service. He has been chosen and served with distinction in various leadership roles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is a family man, a father, a role model, and has been a respected member and pillar of every community where he has lived.