Paul R. Burch

1921 - 2014

Paul Roy Burch, Jr., 93, died on September 17 in Hartford. Born June 3, 1921 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, he was the eldest son of Paul, Sr. and Vera Roberts Burch. He grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY. Paul graduated from SUNY Oneonta where he met Helen "Terry" McKiernan, his wife of 59 years. He received his master's at NYU and a Ph.D. from UConn. They moved to West Hartford in 1949 where he was hired to be the first principal of the new Webster Hill Elementary School. Over the years he became Director of Elementary Education, Assistant Superintendent, and finally Superintendent of West Hartford Public Schools. He retired in 1980 and then served as a consultant with the state superintendent assisting Connecticut school systems as they faced declining enrollment. In 1990, Paul and Terry moved to Sarasota, Florida and Niantic. Terry died in October 2002 and later Paul married Alison Gray of Burlington, Ontario. They lived in Florida and Ontario until Alison died in January 2010. Then, Paul moved to Avery Heights Senior Living Community in Hartford. His family is extremely grateful for the loving care he received there. Paul always had a strong sense of community responsibility and assumed a variety of leadership roles. From his college days until his job in West Hartford became a twelve-month commitment, Paul was a counselor and assistant director at Herald-Tribune Fresh Air Fund and YMCA camps. For over forty years, Paul was a member of the First Church of Christ, Congregational in West Hartford where he served as moderator and deacon. After moving to Niantic he was active in the Old Lyme Congregational Church. Paul was a dedicated volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in both Hartford and Southeastern Connecticut. He devoted time to the Oswegatchie Hills neighborhood association in Niantic and was treasurer of Casa Mar in Sarasota. He was a longtime member of Rotary and advocated for the inclusion of women as members. He is survived by his three sons and two daughters-in-law: James in Wilton, Peter and Marsha in Durham, NC, and Donald and Lisa in South Windsor. He has four grandchildren: Scott and Kelsea in Connecticut; and Martin, his wife Heather, and Geoffrey in North Carolina as well as Marsha's two children and their families. In Ontario he has four stepchildren and their families. Paul was a warm and loving man, generous of spirit. He conveyed appreciation and humor with all, even through his last years with dementia. He was a solid, reliable husband, father, grandfather, and citizen, a strong advocate for equity and social justice and a powerful mentor to many. He was a genuinely nice man, forever with a twinkle in his eye. We feel fortunate to have known you and will miss you, Paul. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 25, 11:00am at First Church of Christ, Congregational, 12 South Main Street, West Hartford.