Sally Robinson Burt, 94, passed away peacefully at home in Fox Hill Village, Dedham, Ma, on June 22, 2026. Born Sally Riley Robinson to the late Alphonso Pitts Robinson and Madeline Boyer Robinson on May 8, 1932, she is predeceased by brother Alphonso Pitts Robinson, Jr. and her beloved husband Kenneth Henry Burt. She graduated from Vassar College in 1954 after having met Ken on a blind date. They were married June 18, 1955, and loved each other fiercely until his death in 2020.
Sally and Ken loved gardening, traveling, and their children, Daphne and Eric. Settling in Dedham, Ma, they spent summers in Marion, Ma, until 1970. Living in Marion briefly in the 1980’s, they returned to Dedham until their move to Fox Hill Village in Westwood, Ma in 2010.
Their love of gardens and gardening prompted years of international travel, beginning with walking tours in Ken’s homeland, England. They took cruises in the Mediterranean. Sally taught herself Italian to communicate with friends, guides, and hotels managers. Each trip they took was planned with Sally’s own particular style.
After staying home when the children were small, Sally used her talents and voice as a docent, archivist, teacher, and writer. A docent for the New Bedford Whaling Museum in the 80s, she was a member of and role player for the Education Committees of both SPNEA and the Dedham Historical Society. In Dedham, she not only chaired the committee, she also designed exhibits and helped plan Dedham’s 350th celebration. Sally received her teaching certificate in 1976 and taught Special Ed at the Richards Memorial and Dedham High schools and Language Arts at Dedham Country Day. Her articles about traveling with Ken were published in the Boston Globe from 1981 – 2000.
An integral part of St. Paul’s Church in Dedham, Sally taught Sunday School, planned an anti-racism conference in 1968, sang in the choir, and served on the flower guild. Taking courses at Andover Newton prepared her to teach Bible study for women her age until her mid-80s.
Sally found community at Fox Hill Village and was an active member until her death. She and Ken tended the long border garden and was known for the beautiful arrangements she created for the front hall foyer. They loved dancing together. Even after Ken’s death and the loss of her voice in 2022, Sally played with the bell choir, and enjoyed discussion groups In the last years of her life, when all she could do was smile, wave, and dance in the hallways, Sally made it clear that she cared for and appreciated everyone whose path she crossed.
Immensely proud of her children and grandchildren, Sally enthusiastically attended games and matches of her son and grandchildren, supporting them in all their endeavors. Daughter Daphne was known at Fox Hill as “the minister,” and Sally often promoted and attended services where Daphne preached.
Sally leaves behind many who will miss her singular presence, including Daphne (Lisa Martinell) and Eric (Jen); her grandchildren Betsy, Brooks, and Emily Burt; nephew and niece Pitts Robinson and Elizabeth Robinson Mitchell; and family and friends around the world. Her memorial service will be at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 59 Court Street, at 11:00 on Thursday, July 9. Her ashes will be interred next to Ken’s in the St. Paul’s memorial garden. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Fox Hill Village Appreciation Fund.