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Leroy Burdick Obituary
Roy was born June 23, 1930, in Mystic, third son of the late Thomas Eugene and Alice Louise (Reeve) Burdick. Roy grew up on West Cove in Noank where boats and sailing became his life's passion. Leaving high school for a tour of duty in the submarine service, Roy returned to Noank and apprenticed to sail-maker, Larry Sobstad in Saybrook, learning sail shape and hand-finish work with marlinspike, needle and palm. Following work at the Sobstad loft, Roy worked for sail-makers, Bailey and Staub of New London, the rigger's loft at Electric Boat, and ventured out on his own with Sails By Burdick and Yare Canvas. Roy also tried property management at a private estate in Lake Tahoe, Nev., before returning to manage the Four Mile River Marina in South Lyme.
Though the punishment from a lifetime of hand work and kneeling on sail loft floors left Roy wracked with arthritis, his passion for cooking remained. Renowned for his clam chowder, clam fritters, and lobster bisque, he added canning to his repertoire, gifting all with fabulous pickles, jams, and jellies and his own version of "V-6" juice (six vegetables, not eight). Model making, sailboats of course, and painting, boats and oceans of course, filled his retirement days.
Roy was predeceased by his brother, Herbert Leroy Burdick.
He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Ann (Rhodes) Burdick; sister, Alicia Gertrude Crossman and her husband, Errol Crossman, brother, Victor Bryant Burdick and his wife, Kathleen Margaret (Valentine), and sister Vivian Elaine Smith and her husband and Roy's dear friend, Franklin "Bucky" Smith. Children include Gail Alice Burdick of Lake City, Fla., Dwight Daniel Burdick and his wife, Karen, of Mililani, Hawaii, Clark Thomas Burdick and his wife, Martha, of West Salem, Wis., Caleigh Elizabeth Burdick of Amesbury, Mass., and Kyle Leroy Burdick of Pembroke, Maine. Roy leaves six grandchildren and a great-grandchild; nine nephews and nieces, 13 grand-nephews and nieces, six great-grand-nephews and nieces; and a plethora of loving friends.
A private family memorial is planned for mid-summer.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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