Former Camp Verde Mayor and resident Robert L. Burnside, 70, died Aug. 14, in Camp Verde.
Burnside was born Sept. 11, 1945, in Bellefontaine, Ohio, to Glen and Rose Burnside.
From the age of 16, he spent his life as a plumber. He worked as a contracting manager and foreman for Darwin and Jeremy Rushton at Yavapai Mechanical for 22 years, opening a local branch in Camp Verde that remained open for over 10 years, employing 126 people through its duration. Prior to Yavapai Plumbing, Burnside worked for Marlin Mechanical for 10 years, Glendale Plumbing for 10 years and for his father’s company before that.
Burnside unseated two-term mayor Tony Gioia in 2009, serving in the position until 2013, when he lost a reelection bid to current mayor Charlie German. Afterward, Burnside became Camp Verde Planning and Zoning Commissioner — a position he held until his death.
He is survived by his wife Suzy Burnside, their son Thomas Anderson and his loyal German Shepard, Blitz. He is also survived by his first wife Joline Burnside, their daughter “Buffy” Casandra Maitlen-Jones, her husband Willis
Jones III and their children Cole Maitlen and Willis “PJ” Jones IV and their son, Joe Burnside, his wife Kasi Burnside and their son Joey Burnside.
Burnside is further survived by his second wife Carol Mahurin, their daughter Jeri Sue and her children Austin and Cody.
“Mayor Burnside was a good man to work with,” Camp Verde Town Manager Russ Martin stated. “He had a real love for Camp Verde and worked behind the scenes on so many projects that, without him, would not have been possible or at least as successful. People now enjoy trails in Camp Verde, such as Copper Canyon — not only because he helped pull a group together to get it done, but because he did much of the physical work himself. It is just one example of how he helped make this community a
better place.”
Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens said, “Working with Bob Burnside was an honor throughout the years he served as mayor of Camp Verde and I served as mayor of Cottonwood. We could always talk about our communities’ issues with great respect for each other. Bob was humble, honest and hard-working …. It’s difficult to think that I won’t have a chance for another Bob visit. My condolences to Suzy Burnside and family.”
“The staff always referred to Bob as ‘Bodacious Bob,’” Camp Verde Community Development Director Mike Jenkins said. “In everything he participated in, he worked with us through the entire process, and was diligent and always had many, many ideas. He cared a lot about land use and Camp Verde, and trying to preserve its culture. He took a strong stand on individual freedom and the rights of those in the agricultural community.”
According to Jenkins, Burnside played an instrumental role in developing the town’s 2016 General Plan, which is the go-to tool and blueprint for the town’s future growth and development. In addition, he said that Burnside worked tirelessly to keep Fort Verde State Historic Park open during the Great Recession that began in 2008.
“Bob was a no-nonsense kind of guy, who always had the attitude of ‘let’s roll up our sleeves and get ‘er done,’”
Fort Verde Manager Sheila Stubler stated. “As mayor, Bob Burnside served during the budget crisis and recession in 2009-10 and was instrumental helping keep Fort Verde open to the public.”
According to Burnside’s family, no services or memorial will be held in order to respect Burnside’s desires.
