<::taps::> Neil T. Burns Sr., veteran & member, St. Joseph's D&BC (NY)

Neil T. Burns Sr. 79, of Batavia, past president of Ryan-DeWitt Corporation, died
Thursday, March 8, 2007 at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia. Born July 8,
1927 in Batavia, Mr. Burns was the son of the late Robert and Catherine (Fines)
Burns.

He graduated from Batavia High School and the Rochester Business Institute.

He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II, earning the Victory Medal, American
Theatre Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Medal.

Mr. Burns worked for Ryan-DeWitt Corporation, a regional distributor of petroleum and
automotive products, for 35 years. He then served as executive director of the
Genesee County Industrial Development Corporation, retiring from this position in
1992.

Mr. Burns was a leader in church, community and hospital activities. He was Genesee
County Man of the Year in 1981. In 2002, he was honored for being a founding trustee
of Notre Dame High School. In 1966, Governor Nelson Rockefeller appointed him a
founding trustee of Genesee Community College, where he served 12 years and was its
chairman in 1973-74.

A member and 35-year trustee of St. Joseph's Church, Mr. Burns served on various
committees and chaired its annual lawn fetes. He received the St. Joseph the Worker
Award from the Diocese of Buffalo in 1996. He was past president of the Batavia
Chamber of Commerce, past chairman of the County United Fund Appeal, past president
of the Batavia Rotary Club, member of the City of Batavia planning board, and
original board member and chairman of the St. Jerome Hospital Foundation.

A lifelong supporter of drum corps, he was a member of the original St. Joseph's Drum
Corps.

An avid golfer, he was also a member of Stafford Country Club for 50 years.

Mr. Burns is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gloria Mae Greene Burns; two
daughters, Janet (Bruce) Briggs of Batavia and Susan (Daniel) Keefe of Amherst; four
sons, Robert Burns of Batavia, Neil Jr. (Patricia) Burns of Amherst, Timothy Burns of
Cleveland, OH, and Daniel (Denise) Burns of Brighton; two brothers, Robert (Marjorie)
Burns of Chester, MD, and Paul (Helen) Burns of Batavia; 14 grandchildren and several
nieces and nephews. His brother, the late William Burns, died in October 2000.

Friends may call on Monday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the H.E. TURNER & CO. FUNERAL HOME,
403 East Main St., Batavia.
Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday at 9:30 AM at St. Joseph's Church.
Entombment will be in St. Joseph's Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Genesee Community College Foundation, One College
Dr., Batavia, NY 14020; St. Joseph's Church, 303 East Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or
St. Joe's Drum Corps, 7132 Twing Rd., LeRoy, NY 14482.

Published on 3/11/2007.


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