Caltech Mourns the Passing of Phyllis Burton

Phyllis Burton, a contracting officer who spent 42 years at Caltech, all of them in the Procurement Services department, passed away on December 14, 2021.

Burton unofficially began her career at Caltech with a nine-month temporary assignment as support staff in the seismology department while attending school at Pasadena City College. In 1979, returned to Caltech as a receptionist for what was then called Business Services and eventually became Procurement Services. In her most recent role as a contracting officer, she supported the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering and the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

In 2017, Burton was awarded the Thomas W. Schmitt Annual Staff Prize, the Institute's highest honor for a staff member, given in honor of contributions that "embody the values and spirit that enables the Institute to achieve excellence in research and education." Burton was nominated by colleagues who called her professional, dedicated, warm, and knowledgeable. "She is a problem solver and represents Caltech in such a wonderful way!" said one nomination.

Monica Marquez, associate director of purchasing services and Burton's supervisor, called her "incredible and focused," adding, "Phyllis was often very territorial when it came to her requisition queue; she never let management reassign her Requisitions when the volume was too high. She said she had it covered, and she did!"

Burton's colleagues said that she was enthusiastic about animals and insects, often attending insect shows. "Creatures big and small, she loves them all!" they noted.

Burton is survived by her mother, Virginia; her son, Thomas Tolliver; her daughter, Laurel Tolliver, and her son-in-law Chi Tong; her two grandsons, Ladarius and Larelle; and her two brothers, Donald and Christopher.