The Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas in Kendall (Miami) mourns the passing of Richard Jay Burton (Brooklyn, 1949 – Aventura, October 17, 2025), an attorney of uncommon distinction, an ardent devotee of the visual arts, and a valued member of our Board of Trustees. At seventy-six, Richard leaves a legacy that exceeds professional renown: a life animated by integrity, courage, and compassion—qualities he brought to the law and, with equal conviction, to the cultural fabric of our city. Married for fifty-three years to Truly, whom he cherished and admired, he was a devoted father to Marc and a proud grandfather to Samuel and Jeremy, the abiding center of his joy.

Known for taking on matters others declined, Richard began his career in Washington, D.C., on cases emerging from the Watergate era, and for more than half a century became a pillar of South Florida’s legal community. In the last thirteen years he practiced alongside his son, Marc, embodying his belief that the law, at its best, is both vocation and familial inheritance. His bond with the University of Miami spanned nearly six decades: as a student he championed reforms that broadened inclusion and, faithful to his conviction that political activism must never slide into violence, quietly intervened to avert an attack on campus—an act of civic guardianship that saved lives. In 2009, the University recognized his lifelong service and leadership with induction into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, its highest distinction.

Within our museum, Richard’s stewardship was marked by ethical rigor and generous curiosity. From the Board, he supported curatorial and educational initiatives that widened access and deepened public conversation, reminding us by example that art institutions strengthen democratic life when they extend the commons of attention. To his family, friends, and colleagues, we offer our profound condolences and our enduring gratitude for sharing with Miami a steadfast ally. In the coming days we will announce a memorial tribute at our Kendall campus and a permanent initiative bearing his name to underwrite projects that reflect his values. His light endures in every act of justice and in every experience of art that transforms a life; that, now and always, is the measure of his legacy.