Dianne Burnham Hall

Dianne Burnham Hall, 77, of Santa Barbara was welcomed Home by the Lord on July 30,
2013. She died peacefully, in her sleep.
She was born to Royal Clifford Burnham and Evelyn Tulen Burnham in Chautauqua, NY in 1935. After graduating from high school at 16, she went on to earn a BA in Education from what is now SUNY Buffalo with dual certification in early childhood and orthopedically handicapped education. She began her teaching career in New York in 1956, the same year in which she met her future husband Stafford. Their marriage in 1958 was followed by the birth of their son Andrew in 1963. The new family moved to Hollywood later that same year, and to Santa Barbara in 1964. From 1968 to
1976, she was a kindergarten teacher, supervisor of grades K-3 and curriculum director for grades K-6 at Christian School of Santa Barbara, leaving in 1976 to begin a second career as a private tutor.
For almost 40 years thereafter, generations of Santa Barbara students found the same cheerful, encouraging, motivating, friend and teacher whether at 9PM on a Friday night or 8AM on a Monday morning. Dianne lived her life firmly in the present and although she was old enough to have seen Peter, Paul, and Mary while they were still playing coffeehouses (she did), she was just as comfortable listening to Katy Perry. She taught much more than math. She was till the last a bright, intellectually curious woman who couldn’t wait for the morning to see what had happened during the night. Her bedside reading always included more than 20 books, from Brad Thor to Steven Pinker.
She enjoyed politics, theology, cooking (especially baking), orchids, and generally making sure everyone was doing what they were supposed to be doing.
Dianne is survived by her husband Stafford and son Andrew and was predeceased by her parents and her sister Elaine. While at her request there will be no funeral or memorial service, the family will be at home on Sunday, September 15 from 1-5 PM to receive visitors. Due in part to the unexpected nature of her passing and to assist with medical expenses, contributions may be made if desired to the Dianne B. Hall Memorial Fund in care of any Wells Fargo Bank branch office (account ending –0474). The family would like to thank Welch-Ryce-Haider for their assistance in a difficult time.