Matthew "Jim" Burns

1959 - 2021

Jim Burns passed away at his home from natural causes on January 14, 2021, in Escondido, California. Jim was born on July 7, 1959, in Troy, New York. He attended schools in Vernon, Bolton, and E.O.Smith High School in Mansfield, Connecticut. He graduated from Guilderland High School, Guilderland Center, New York. In 1977, he joined the Navy and served as a quartermaster on nuclear submarines performing marine navigational duties. He loved being at sea and later obtained his merchant marine certification as an able seaman. He was a crew member of the Military Sealift Command out of Oakland, California for two years, leaving in 1993, for college. In May 1995, he graduated with a BA degree in geography from UMass-Amherst. He later worked for Kaman industries in Bloomfield. In 2005, he traveled to California for the wonderful weather south of Los Angeles and lived for a while at Hermosa Beach. He was employed by Northrup Grumman as an aeronautics engineer until he died. Jim leaves behind his parents and step-parents: Lee and Thomas Terry of Mansfield, CT; and Matthew and Margaret Burns of Dunedin, Florida. He also leaves behind his sister, Wendy, and her husband Allen Pendergraph and their children: Samuel Pendergraph and wife Nina, and grandchildren Ellen and Thomas of Stockholm, Sweden; Daniel Pendergraph of Manchester; and John Pendergraph of Hartford, Connecticut. He leaves his brothers: Thomas Burns and wife Jeannie Savegnago of Ocala, Florida; and Daniel Burns, wife Diane, and daughter Dylan Marie Burns of Manchester, Connecticut. Jim was very fond of his step brothers: Kyle Terry of Clinton, Connecticut; Brett Terry and his family of Mystic, Connecticut; and their mother, Patricia Terry of Guilford, Connecticut. Jim had loving aunts: Carol Peckham of Hudson, NY; Sr. Virginia Peckham of Salisbury, MD; Patricia Peckham of Yorktown Heights; and Chris Sweeney of South Portland, ME. He also left several cousins from both sides of the family. Jim leaves his ex-wife Sandra Jamriska Burns, and many good friends, who say he had a "good heart." We know he was sympathetic to the poor and homeless. For that reason, we suggest that memorial donations should be made the Neighbors for Neighbors fund of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, 68 Federal St., P.O. Box 769, New London, CT 06320; Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary, P.O. Box 1755, Salisbury, MD 21802; or the charity of your choice. Because of the COVID virus, a memorial service will be held in Connecticut later this year.