Obituary: Richard F. Burns

Richard F. Burns, at 90

Richard F. Burns, 90, of Weymouth and Sarasota, FL, died peacefully on Oct. 27, following a short hospital stay. Born in Albany, NY, Mr. Burns 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.
Mr. Burns served in the Army during World War II and was stationed in Germany, where he met and married his beloved wife Edith, a native of Berlin. He was 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 New York and was the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional economist in Boston.
An avid sailor, Mr. Burns 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, he was a celebrant at the church of St. Patrick in Sarasota, where he was a lector. When in Massachusetts, he enjoyed attending services at St Ann’s Church in Hull.
Mr. Burns 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.
Predeceased by his wife, Mr. Burns is survived by Denis and Gerry Burns of Pennsylvania 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.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Thursday, 5-8 p.m., in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St., Hingham. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Ann’s Church, Hull at 10 a.m. on Friday.
In lieu of flowers, donations to his favorite charity, Dufresnay Haiti Foundation, would be gratefully accepted. Mail a check to the foundation in care of Robert Mortell, Treasurer, 1 Moreland Ave., Hull, MA 02045 or visit www.dufresnayhaitifoundation.org.
See www.Keohane.com for online condolences.