Obituary of O. Gregory Burns

O. Gregory (Red) Burns, 85, of New Hartford, died Thursday, April 17, 2008 at the Martin Luther Nursing Home. He was born in Utica September 25, 1922 a son O. Gregory and Kathleen Kennedy Burns. He was the oldest of six children. He was a graduate of Clinton Schools and Kimball Union Academy. He also attended St. Lawrence University and Hamilton College. At one time he worked on Walls St., New York City and in 1946 returned to Clinton. While in Clinton, Red played on the Clinton High School Hockey Team and also the early Clinton Comets Hockey Team. For several years he was a sales representative for General Foods and Oneida Limited Silversmiths. He later was employed by Reed & Barton Silversmiths in Kansas City, Mo. When he retired in 1984 he returned to upstate New York and made his home in New Hartford. He was an avid reader, writer and storey teller, having spent many years as a volunteer in the Utica Schools, where he earned citations for his work teaching young children. The Young Scholars Liberty Partnership Program named him Mentor of the Year in 1996. He was chosen for representing the type of advocate that youth of today need. He worked as a volunteer tutor at Kemble and Watson-Williams schools since 1986 and joined YSLPP as a mentor 1995. He is survived by his brothers Owens J. Burns of Ct. and Richard C. Burns of NC and a sister Sheila Burns Thomes of Southhold, NY. He is also survived by many great and great great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother Nicholas K. Burns and a sister Judith Burns Gilroy. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday April 22, 2008 at Historic St. Johns Church, Utica at 10:00 AM. Burial will be in St. Marys Cemetery, Clinton. There will be no public calling hours. Arrangements by Owens-Pavlot Funeral Service, Inc., Clinton. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Reds name to Young Scholars LPP c/o Flossie Mithchell Utica College, 1600 Burrstone Rd., Utica, NY 13502 or Historic St. Johns Church, 240 Bleecker St., Utica, NY 13501