Photo provided by Rochester Protectives

Scholarship Fund for Firefighter Families Honors 30 Years of Service

John W. Burandt was known by his family as the person who could fix anything, and by his community as a dedicated firefighter. Family members honored John’s deep commitment to the firefighting community by creating a scholarship fund at the Community Foundation in his name to benefit the dependents of firefighters.

After serving in the Navy for two years during WWII and marrying the love of his life, Rene, in 1949, John began volunteering for the Rochester Protectives in 1952. While firefighters are focused on the flames, the Protectives do what they can to minimize damage to property and belongings — a compassionate service for families and businesses affected by a fire. Mr. Burandt joined the Rochester Fire Department in 1954 and went on to become one of the drivers for the Rochester Protectives. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant in 1972 and served as a Fire Academy Instructor before retiring in 1982.   

John and Rene had a beautiful partnership: They both believed in giving back and giving others an opportunity to pursue their dreams. After the Burandts passed, a relative used a bequest to memorialize her family members and their service to the communities they cared so much about. Now, the John W. Burandt Scholarship Fund will provide financial support for tuition, fees, books, and other expenses related to post-secondary education for families of firefighters in Rochester. 

To learn about setting up a fund in honor of someone you love, contact our Giving Specialists at giving@racf.org or 585.271.4100.