With great sadness, OGC announces the passing of our cherished colleague, Mr. Jeffrey Burnett of Littleton, Mass, on 28 November 2023, from cancer.
Jeff joined OGC as Vice President for Operations and Finance in April, 2000, serving as OGC’s Chief Financial Officer and member of the Board of Directors until his retirement in 2020. In the 20 years prior to joining OGC, Jeff held product management positions in the emerging imaging and high-performance computing market with Digital Equipment Corporation and the Massachusetts Computer Corporation (MASSCOMP). It was during this time that he first met and worked with the founders of OGC, who would later call upon Jeff to lead the Consortium’s senior staff to support OGC’s continued expansion.
Jeff was deeply committed to OGC and proved to be incredibly talented as the Consortium’s finance lead. Jeff constantly sought ways to improve the Consortium’s approach to the fiscal and operational intricacies of OGC‘s global mission. He approached his work with professionalism, tremendously sharp wit, and a delightfully wry sense of humor – qualities appreciated by OGC Directors, Staff, and the many Member representatives he worked with.
Jeff Burnett was a talented student and manager from the beginning of his career. Having grown up a sailor on the shores of Massachusetts Bay, Jeff was also an avid reader. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Dartmouth College where he graduated also as a commissioned Naval officer. Upon graduation, Jeff served with honor in the U.S. Navy. A student at heart, upon returning as a reserve officer Jeff then attended Harvard University Business School where he earned his MBA. He was a patriot, a storyteller, and an avid amateur genealogist – discovering and creating lasting relationships with extended family and relatives around the world. Most importantly, Jeff was a deeply caring family man to his wife Janine, son Evan, and daughter Sarah.
This remarkable colleague and friend of OGC will be deeply missed.
A formal obituary for Jeff Burnett is online here.