Phillip Joseph Burns
Portland - Phillip Joseph Burns, 88, passed away on April 20, 2021.
Phil was born in Binghamton in upstate New York the son of John and Merian Burns.
After graduating in the mid century class of Binghamton Central High School, Phil graduated from Hamilton College and then, two weeks later, found himself taking basic infantry training at Fort Dix in New Jersey.
After receiving his honorable discharge from the Army, Phil took the Korean War G.I. Bill and entered the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University. He then worked as an Agricultural Economist for 30 years for the Soil Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture covering the states of Oregon, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
While in Europe observing Denmark’s successful exporting of foods, Phil met a lovely nurse from Australia, Jean McMahon, who was working and traveling in Europe. They became acquainted and wound up being married for 55 years while living in Ontario, Canada; Oregon, Maine and North Carolina. In retirement Phil was active with Reading for the Blind in North Carolina and reading with elementary students both in North Carolina and in Maine.
Jean predeceased Phil as did two of his brothers, John and Bob.
Phil is survived by his daughter, Linda and her husband Bruce Stone of Portland, Maine; and by sons Terry of Windham, Maine, David and his wife Rebecca of Naperville, Illinois and Kevin and his wife Melissa of Saco, Maine.
Phil is also survived by his grandchildren, Annelisa and John of Naperville and Kayla and Michael of Saco. And he is survived by his brother Larry, his nephew Sean, Sean’s wife Christine and his sister-in-law Marion Burns.
Phil will be missed greatly by his family and friends, and will be remembered for many things such as his good-nature, his love of the outdoors, swimming and hiking, his devotion to his wife, his deep love for his family, his genuine interest in others, and his intense curiosity.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on June 1, 2021 at 11:00 AM. Due to current gathering restrictions the family encourages friends to watch the Mass live at: www.ladyofhopemaine.org. Inurnment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.
The family would like to thank Dr. Jeffrey Grassmann and Diana Anderson of Intermed, the staff of Individual Care of Maine, the staff of Hospice of Southern Maine and the staff of Ashton Gardens for the care and comfort they provided for Phil.
Donations in his memory may be sent to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation: https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/.
Online condolences may be expressed below.
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