Add a Memory
Send Flowers
Make a Donation
Mary Ellen Burns Obituary
Mary Ellen was born in Brooklyn on August 26, 1948 to Mary Ellen and Albert V. Burns. The oldest of thirteen children, she grew up in Queens and Syosset, NY. She was a graduate of Harvard College and NYU Law School.
Beginning with her anti-war activism in college and her post-law school years at Bedford-Stuyvesant Legal Services, Mary Ellen spent her career fighting the good fight. In her decades as an Assistant New York State Attorney General, Mary Ellen worked on significant environmental cases, including those related to nuclear power as well as the successful battle against Hooker Chemical in the notorious toxic dumping at Love Canal and Niagara Falls, NY. Despite brief detours at the FCC in Washington, D.C. and a stint teaching at Hampshire College, Mary Ellen always returned to her professional home at the Office of the NY State Attorney General, from which she retired in 2018.
Mary Ellen had a wide breadth of knowledge and a capacity for precise explanation. She had strong opinions - that she was unabashed at sharing - on topics as varied as history, poetry, sports, art, and - of course - politics.
From the early years of NYC mini-marathons to her enthusiasm for the heavens (she traveled to Hawaii for the 1991 total eclipse), Mary Ellen loved being outdoors and she shared with her younger siblings a keen curiosity and appreciation for the natural world around us. She wrote poetry, drew and painted, and was an avid fan of the NY Yankees. She loved spending time with her nieces and nephews and watching them grow. Mary Ellen had a great mind and a compassionate heart. We love her deeply and are heartbroken at her passing.
Mary Ellen is survived by eleven siblings: Carolyn, Michael (Ave Maria), George (Lisa), Mark, Barbara (Dave), David (Elise), Cathy (Terrence), Jacqueline (Rich), Christine (Michael), Deirdre (Bill), and Angela, along with fifteen nieces and nephews, two great nieces and a great nephew. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Patricia, her nephew Matthew, and her brother-in-law, Chuck.
Visitation will be on Thursday, April 25th, from 6:00-8:00PM, at Redden's Funeral Home, 325 W. 14th St, New York, NY 10014.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, April, 26th at 10:00AM, at Blessed Sacrament Church, 152 W. 71st St., New York, NY 10023.
Burial will follow at Kensico Cemetery, 273 Lakeview Avenue
Valhalla, NY 10595.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1 Entry
Theresa Gamble
July 21, 2024
I am sorry I learned of your passing so late Mary Ellen. I vividly remember visiting you in your NYC apartment with Angela and thinking it was so grand to live right in the middle of such a famous and lively city. I also remember being so surprised that you stored non- kitchen items in your oven (maybe shoes?) - but it was a typical NY apartment, so it made a lot of sense. I also remember when you came to visit us in the south. We took a long walk - and said hello to almost everyone we passed. At the end you were so impressed with how many people we knew - which made us laugh so hard - because we didn´t know those people, it´s just the southern way. May you rest in peace and be in a place where there are interesting books and people to talk to about all the things you loved. - Theresa Gamble
How you can show support
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Follow this page
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 results
Make a Donation
in Mary Ellen Burns's name
How to support Mary Ellen's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Mary Ellen Burns's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
