(This story was updated to add new information.)
Kevin Burns was a favorite teacher for so many students who walked the halls of Jupiter Middle School over the past two decades.
Burns brought lessons to life with jokes and inspired confidence even in the shy children, past students recalled on social media on Tuesday after learning of his death the week before.
He was a mainstay at the school, where he taught U.S. history and civics for more than 20 years. No one could have guessed that he taught his final classes at the beginning of this school year.
Burns died Aug. 14 after snorkeling in a strong ocean current off the coast of Jupiter, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said.
Kate Strein, an English language arts teacher at Jupiter Middle who shared students with Burns, said she is in shock over the loss. She called Burns “pure sunshine.” She remembers him for his catch phrase: “Have a sublime day.”
“I’ve never heard him say a single thing negative,” Strein said. “We are deeply saddened and our school will not be the same without him.”
Sean Lauer is a social studies teacher who worked with Burns for nearly 20 years and became close friends with him. The two surfed together in weather they “had no business being in,” he said.
“We would spend hours at his house talking on a variety of subjects,” said Lauer, who now works at Western Pines Middle School in Westlake. “He always had a depth of knowledge and great insight. I learned so much from him —as I hope he learned from me as well.”
Lisa Hastey, the school’s principal, sent a letter over the weekend to school families and staff members about Burns’ death. School counselors and a therapy dog supported mourning students on Aug. 17, the letter said.
“He maintained an unwavering commitment to education and will be deeply missed by all who knew him,” Hastey wrote in the letter. “On behalf of the entire school, I have extended our sympathy and support to his family during this difficult time.”
How did Kevin Burns die?
Burns went paddle boarding with a friend on Aug. 14. They rode their paddle boards about half a mile offshore to a reef, secured their boards and then entered the water to snorkel.
That’s when the current strengthened and took both of the men away from their boards. It was so strong that the men couldn’t swim against it.
They tried to swim to shore, but when Burns’ friend made it to the beach, he was alone and couldn’t see Burns in the water. The friend called 911, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue met him at the beach along the 3000 block of State Road A1A, north of The Bluffs community. A sheriff’s helicopter found Burns in the water north of the reef where the men had secured their paddleboards.
Fire Rescue paramedics took him to Jupiter Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 7 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office.
Who was Kevin Burns?
Burns’ Facebook page revealed his love of the outdoors. He shared photos hiking at Yosemite National Park, diving underwater and sitting on the beach. Lauer said Burns was “a fish in the water” and an avid diver and snorkeler. He took frequent trips to the Florida Keys and other places adventure would take him, Lauer said.
Burns was a father of two, Strein said in a Facebook post. He also coached soccer, track and paddle boarding, according to people on social media who said they knew him.
“JMS won’t be the same without you, Burnsie,” Strein wrote in a Facebook post. “We will hold your memory in our hearts forever….make heaven Sublime.”
Maya Washburn is a Trending News Reporter for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jupiter Middle mourns ‘sunshine’ teacher who died after snorkeling
Reporting by Maya Washburn, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Maya Washburn, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
