Henry “Skip” D. Burbine, 65 of Londonderry, NH died Sunday October 14, 2018 surrounded by his loving family and comforted by the wonderful medical staff at Parkland Medical Center in Derry, NH. Skip was born in Amesbury, MA on February 14, 1953, a son of the late Henry and Helen (Paine) Burbine. He was a graduate of Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, NH as well as the University of New Hampshire. Skip was raised and educated in Hampton and resided in Portsmouth, NH for a number of years before moving to Londonderry to raise a family 22 years ago. Skip was the dedicated finance director at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH for over 30 years until its closure in 2016 at which point he embarked on a number of successful private ventures.
Skip was a passionate sports enthusiast throughout his life; both as a fan as well as a competitor. He was an avid fan of all Boston sports teams and especially loved his Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics. In his early years, Skip enjoyed playing competitive football and basketball at Winnacunnet High School and was an avid member of the Hampton Beach surfing community. His surfing career culminated with his winning of the NH Amateur Surf Tournament at "The Wall" in Hampton Beach at 19 years old. A few years later, while studying at UNH, Skip learned to play tennis which quickly became his life's true athletic passion. He enjoyed competing in Men's Open and "A" tennis tournaments across New England and notched countless championship appearances and wins. Skip was known around the state as a renowned professional tennis coach and enjoyed sharing his passion for the game with hundreds, if not thousands, of players throughout his life. He was the proud coach of both the Boy's and Girl's Londonderry High School tennis teams for a number of years, and coached the 2010 LHS Boy's Tennis Team to their 1st state championship in school history as well as the 2014 girl's singles championship. Skip was also an active board member, and former President, of the Granite State Kids Tennis organization - a grassroots tennis program focused on spreading the love of the game to junior players across New Hampshire.
He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Patrice E. Ruff-Burbine of Londonderry, his children, Paul Alexander Burbine, and Cassandra Grace Burbine both of S. Boston, MA, his siblings, Raymond Burbine of Florida and Kathie Burbine, David Burbine, and James Burbine of New Hampshire, as well as many beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Robert, also of Hampton, NH.
Calling hours were held on Friday October 19, 2018 from 4 – 8 pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday at 10:00am in St. Jude’s Parish, 435 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. Burial followed in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Hudson, NH. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ocular Melanoma Foundation at www.ocularmelanoma.org.