Richard Burns

1926 - 2016

Burns, Richard
June 25, 1926, - October 27, 2016
BURNS, Richard F., 90, of Weymouth and Sarasota, FL, passed away peacefully on October 27 following a short hospital stay. Born in Albany, NY, Richard lived in Milton and Hull before retiring to Florida in 1990. He had recently moved to Allerton House in Weymouth to be near his son, Thomas, of Hull. A World War II veteran, Richard served in the Army and was stationed in Germany where he met and married his beloved wife, Edith, a native of Berlin. Richard graduated from Siena College, and was proud of his PhD in Economics, which he earned at the London School of Economics. He worked for the State of NY and was the US Environmental Protection Agency Regional Economist in Boston. Predeceased by his wife, Richard is survived by Denis and Gerry Burns of Easton, PA and their children Michael and Jonathan Burns and Cathy Hall, Thomas and Penny Burns of Hull and their son Erik Burns, and great-grandchildren Tommy, Tavin, Grayson, and Joey. An avid sailor, Richard raised his sons to sail and he and Edith always had a sailboat, whether in Boston or in Sarasota. They were active members of the Sarasota Yacht Club, Sun Coast Yacht Club, and Sarasota Power Squadron where they enjoyed group cruises with their many friends. A devout Catholic, Richard was a celebrant at the Church of St. Patrick in Sarasota, where he was a lector. When in MA, he enjoyed attending services at St. Ann's Church in Hull. Richard will be remembered as a kind and gregarious man who made friends wherever he went. His love for his wife and family was the center of his life, and he will be missed by all who knew him. In lieu of flowers, donations to his favorite charity, Dufresnay Haiti Foundation, would be gratefully accepted.
Friends are invited to attend a prayer service on Thursday, November 17, at 10:00 at Church of St. Patrick, 7900 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota.