Robert “Bob” Michael Burns

A lifelong resident of Chelmsford

Robert “Bob” Michael Burns, 71, a lifelong resident of Chelmsford died Sunday afternoon, July 5, 2020 at his home with his caring wife, Faye L. (Gallegos) Burns, and family at his side.

Born in Lowell, he was the son of the late Christopher and M. Eileen (Duffy) Burns. He graduated from Chelmsford High School with the class of 1966, Springfield College with a BS in Criminal Justice, and Masters in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria.

He proudly served with the Army National Guard from 1968 to 1972.

Bob retired as a Sergeant from the Chelmsford Police Department. He was a past member of NEMLEC.

He enjoyed New England sports especially the New England Patriots. He also enjoyed white water rafting and vacationing with his family in Waterville Valley.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his sons, Christopher Burns and his companion Anna Mcnicholas of Beverly, MA, and Cameron Burns of Chelmsford, MA; daughter, Valerie Coonradt and her husband Jacob of Brookline, NH; grandchild, Orion Coonradt; sister, Marilyn Leclair of Chelmsford, MA; In laws, Louis and Jeanne Gallegos of Utah; and many nieces and nephews.

Steven Florio, the commissioner of the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, has been placed on administrative leave while the Baker administration looks into reports that he dressed in Ku Klux Klan robes and made Nazi salutes while a member of a college fraternity.

In a statement confirming a report from the Boston Globe on Thursday evening, Baker’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services said it “takes these allegations seriously” and referred to “internal investigations” underway.

Deputy Commissioner Patricia Ford was named acting commissioner, the office said. The Globe reported this week that Florio informed his staff of his racially insensitive behav