On April 27, 2016

Burke recovering at home

By Stephen Seitz
KILLINGTON—Longtime Killington resident Bob Burke is recovering nicely at home following a ski accident last winter.
“He came home two weeks ago,” his wife Debbie said. “Thanks to help from the Rotary Club, renovations to the house are finished. I’m especially grateful to Jack Pelletier and Jay Hickory. I had to buy the materials, but all the work was done by volunteers.”
Burke was skiing along Killington’s Panic Button trail when he ran into some trees. Burke broke 13 ribs and three vertebrae, suffered a punctured lung and sustained spinal damage. He first went to Rutland Regional, then to Dartmouth-Hitchcock, and ultimately the Spaulding Rehab Center in Charlestown, Mass.
“He’s getting stronger…lifting weights, and some of his lower body is waking up. We’re optimistic he’ll walk again,” said Debbie.
Besides the exercises, Burke receives physical and occupational therapy from RAVNAH.
“His mood is good,” she said. “He’s very optimistic and looking toward the future. If he gets his back strong enough, he’ll definitely go skiing again.”

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Nordic Rocks brings cross-country skiing to Rutland elementary schools

March 26, 2025
This winter, Rutland’s Northwest and Northeast Elementary School students traded snowball fights for ski poles, thanks to the Nordic Rocks program. Administered by the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA), the initiative introduces children in grades K-2 to cross-country skiing during physical education classes—often for the very first time. Funded by a Killington World Cup…

Bears are waking up; Vermonters should take down birdfeeders

March 26, 2025
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Dept .(VTF&W) has begun to receive reports of bears coming out of their dens and is urging Vermonters to remove their birdfeeders and take additional steps now to prevent conflicts with bears over the spring and summer. “Do not wait to take down your birdfeeders and bearproof your yard until…

How Killington became the Beast

March 26, 2025
By Karen D. Lorentz Vermont State Forester Perry Merrill was the first person to see the potential of developing a ski area on Killington Mountain and what it could mean for recreation and the state’s economy. Pres Smith was the second. Smith’s uncle, Preston Leete, who had become an avid skier while at Dartmouth College…

Pittsfield business owners contemplate challenging new tax

March 26, 2025
By Brett Yates On a voice vote, Pittsfield residents approved a 1% “local option” tax on hotel rooms, restaurant meals, and alcoholic beverages on Town Meeting Day. Business owner Katie Stiles, who runs Vermont Farms Catering with her husband Kevin Lasko, told the Pittsfield Select Board on March 20 that she didn’t hear about it…