Victor Bryant Burdick

Groton - Victor Bryant Burdick, 83, of Noank, beloved husband of 63 years to Kathleen (Valentine) Burdick, passed away Monday, Sept. 26, 2011, at home.

Vic, "Tom" to family and old friends, was a native Noanker, born on Elm Street in 1928 and moved to Davis Court on West Cove in 1935. Leaving school at 16, he spent the rest of his life working long and hard, paying attention to the details, becoming the intuitive engineer and master craftsman. He could fix or build anything. A man's man, ready for anything physical or adventurous, he was also the most loving softie with family, friends, and pets. In Noank in the 50s and 60s his Great Pyrenees "Mickey" had the run of the village from Noank School to the Universal grocery store.

Vic joined the Merchant Marines, shipping on the Liberty Ship Booker T. Washington and then joined the 82nd Airborne as a paratrooper. He felt his 33 year career at Electric Boat was his finest tour, where, "we built the best ships with the finest people." Starting in 1951 as an electrician's helper working for his father Thomas Eugene, as an electrician he participated in the clean-up of the Chalk River, Canada nuclear accident, two tours to Idaho to build the USS Nautilus (SSN571) reactor prototype, and one tour to New York to build the USS Seawolf (SSN575) prototype. Promoted to operations management in the 60s, Vic was ship's manager for numerous SSBN and SSN new construction submarines and concluded his career as engine room area manager for 688 Class construction. Vic was honored by the company as "trigger man" for the launching of SSN709, Hyman G. Rickover.

While proud of his EB career, he was most proud of his family and always put family first. Though working 12 hour days, he still found time to play pirates in the New York woods and would stomp around on the roof with sleigh bells late on Christmas Eve so the children would know Santa was near. Boats and sailing were his lifelong avocation, so summers were filled with cruises to Maine and the Massachusetts islands. Working third shift allowed day time hours for building seawalls and the dock and the endless effort of trying to keep ahead of the 1820s home. After retirement Vic and Kathleen did extended cruising, including three cruises to Florida.

Vic was predeceased by his brothers, Herbert and Leroy.

Along with wife, Kathleen, he is survived by his sisters, Alicia Crossman and husband, Errol, of Noank, and Vivian Smith and husband, Franklin, of Noank. In addition, he leaves behind sons, Bryan and wife, Therese, of Noank, and Wayne and wife, Joyce, of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; and daughter, Rev. Victoria with partner, Verne Ray, of Groton. Also surviving are granddaughter, Sarah Caron and husband, Jeff, and great-grandchildren, Richard and Rebecca of Plymouth, N.H.; grandson, Joshua and wife, Jolynn, and great-granddaughters, Madeline and Samantha of Nashua; granddaughter, Amanda Simas and husband, David, and great-grandson, Connor of Warwick, R.I.; and granddaughter, Morgan Morrone and partner, John Lavigne, of Berkeley, Calif. The list of loved and loving extended family and friends spans the country from Hawaii to Florida to Maine.

Always one for a party, Vic's life and love will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Noank Baptist Church. Calling hours will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl St., historic downtown Mystic. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Vic's name may be made to the Noank Baptist Church and/or the Noank Historical Society.