David Burnett

Obituary from the New York Times

DAVID BURNETT, 39, ANTHOLOGY EDITOR
Nov. 22, 1971

David Benjamin Foley Burnett, co‐editor with his mother, Martha Foley, since 1958 of the annual “The. Best American Short Stories” anthology, died yesterday in St. Vincent's Hospital after undergoing a series of operations for stomach ulcers. He was 39 years old and lived at 15 Charles Street.

Mr. Burnett was born in Vienna, where his mother, then married to Whit Burnett, was co‐editor with him of Story magazine, which published early works of many, later‐famous writers.

Mr. Burnett attended Columbia University. About 15 years ago, he started an expatriate magazine in Paris, “New story,” in which were printed stories by such promising writers as James Baldwin and Terry, Southern. A few years later he joined his mother in editing the “The Best American Short Stories” series that she had taken over from Edward J. O'Brien on his death in 1941.

Both his parents survive.