James Champlin Burbank passed away on Sunday, December 27, 2020 after nearly 98 years of a full and satisfying life devoted to family, community and country. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 62 years, Laura Lee Wiley Burbank, in 2009.
As Jim was rarely at a loss for words, this obituary honors that trait. He enjoyed sharing information of all kinds, and many discovered if they asked Jim the time, they might get instructions for building a watch.
Jim was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1923 to James Archer Burbank and Helen Champlin Small Burbank, the second of three children. After moving from Scarsdale, New York to West Hartford, Connecticut as an adolescent, Jim graduated from the Kingswood School and went on to study at MIT. He interrupted his education to enlist in the army in support of World War II, but continued to study at Trinity College while awaiting his call-up.
After infantry training at Camp Howze in Texas, Jim received special training in land mine clearing and defusing at the Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia. He served in the European theater as a member of the 84th Infantry (Railsplitters Division), receiving a Bronze Star. He cleared minefields and participated in the Battle of the Bulge and other Allied offensives at the Siegfried Line, Roer River, Rhine River and Elbe River. Jim was part of the first group of occupation forces into Berlin where he was able to take photos of Hitler’s office in the Reichstag. Immediately after the war, he qualified for a year of study at the Sorbonne prior to repatriation. His cherished memories from Paris included his frequent sightings of Gertrude Stein walking her dog. Of course, he had a photograph taken of the two of them together.
Upon his return from Europe, Jim took a position in Portland, Maine at his family’s wholesale grocery and canning business, Twitchell Champlin Company, per his father’s request to help turn it around, rather than return to college. He helped to fight the fires that erupted in Portland and surrounding towns, known as the Great Fires of 1947, and later served as the vice president of the Portland Junior Chamber of Commerce. As he had begun seriously dating Laura Lee Wiley from West Hartford prior to leaving for Maine, he would drive back and forth to Connecticut to see her. They married in 1947 and lived in Portland where their first son, Leland, was born in 1950. After moving to Cape Elizabeth, Maine in 1951, it became clear that the family business would close. Jim accepted a job with the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut, where he began a long career in 1952.
Jim and Laura Lee moved to Stonington borough and welcomed a second son, Scott, into the family in 1953. They moved to their Mystic home on West Mystic Avenue in 1955, creating 50 years of memories there. In 1958, their family was completed with the birth of their daughter, Bettina.
During 36 years at EB, Jim started in the planning department, but spent most of his career as an administrative engineer. He was directly involved in the Nautilus submarine program, went on one of its early sea trials and later contributed to the recertification of EB’s license to handle nuclear material when EB was at risk of losing it. In addition to his other responsibilities, Jim served many years as EB’s coordinator for the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut and eventually on its board of directors.
Jim’s drive to help the community flourished throughout his life in Mystic. His exceptional planning skills and knowledgeable leadership benefited innumerable organizations. Jim was on the board of the Mystic Community Center (now the Mystic branch of the Ocean Community YMCA) when its Pearl Street location became too small for its membership. He helped direct the planning and fundraising for its new location and facility just off Masons Island Road. Jim was also on the building committee for the addition to the Mystic & Noank Library in the mid-1980s. As a member of the board of directors of the Mystic Art Association (now the Mystic Museum of Art), he was instrumental in the expansion of the building to its present size. He was tirelessly dedicated to the MAA, through his long tenure of board service and hands-on approach to many of their projects. There was nothing he wouldn’t do, such as refinishing and adding casters to a large immovable table, insisting on taking no shortcuts to ensure things were done right. Jim especially enjoyed the annual Photography Show, but his favorite exhibit every year was the Children’s Show, where he loved to talk with the children and would sometimes touch base with them later to see how they were doing. Jim was fittingly recognized with an award by the State of Connecticut for his contributions to the arts.
Jim’s outreach often extended to specific individuals. For example, as a member of the Mystic Congregational Church, he supported its Hispanic Education Committee scholarship fund and program over many years, and sustained long-term relationships with some of the recipients.
Attuned to the needs of others, Jim frequently acted behind the scenes, independently and anonymously, to provide food, clothing or financial assistance. Just by reading about a family’s misfortune in the local newspaper, Jim would often find a way to assist them. He instilled in his grandchildren a passion for giving back and modeled ways to help others, such as their projects together to assemble food baskets and deliver them to the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center.
Jim’s interest in photography grew while in Europe right after WWII; he purchased a camera or two while there. He was well known in Mystic for his photographic skills and could be counted on to have one or more cameras and lenses handy. He documented significant events in Mystic, including the Great Mystic Fire of December, 1960, and provided these photos to the Mystic Historical Society. He also was the unofficial photographer at the Mystic Congregational Church. Jim took his "Arctic Gull" photograph in Norway, winning an award from the MAA, where he was an Elected Artist Member. He had photos for sale at a small gallery in Noank for many years, but more commonly an admirer of his work was given a copy. He photographed several weddings for friends and even for his son Scott. He appreciated nature and used the camera to document details of life in local osprey nests, while working for years to get the perfect shot of a full moon and the lights of Mystic Seaport reflected in the river.
Boating was a constant theme and activity for Jim, as indicated by his early nautical drawings and paintings. Although he had a lifelong interest in powerboats, including owning an 18 foot outboard built in Mystic by Gideon Manchester, he and Laura Lee mostly owned sailboats. They started sailing small boats in the 1950s, eventually moving up to a 30 foot cruising sailboat, Footloose, which they sailed to Block Island, Cuttyhunk, Martha’s Vineyard and Shelter Island. They enjoyed day sails and weekend trips with their friends and family. Jim and Laura Lee enjoyed memberships at Mason’s Island Yacht Club and Ram Island Yacht Club. The family spent many summers at MIYC sailing, swimming and playing tennis, as well as cultivating many friendships. Jim was Commodore at MIYC in 1968 and was among those who planned and oversaw the extension of the seawall which facilitated the relocation of the tennis courts to their present location.
An overall love for woodworking and tinkering grew out of Jim’s early interest in designing and building model boats and planes. As a teenager, he won an “extended flight award” for a balsa wood and rice paper plane he built. He was a skilled draftsman, with a keen eye for detail. There were always projects underway in the house, on one of their boats or for friends. He was truly a DIYer and tried to do as much of his own maintenance as possible. He couldn’t do this without having countless tools and a vast supply of hardware on hand. Many of his close friends and neighbors would come to “Burbank Hardware” for a special tool, bolt or fitting if they couldn’t find it at the store. Jim’s engineering abilities and Yankee ingenuity gave him the knack to fix or modify anything, and fix, modify and improve upon he did!
Above all, Jim valued his family and supported them in their activities and life events, whether they were academic, artistic, athletic or community-oriented. He designed individual projects to work on with each child and grandchild, often as gifts for others, including building a clock, jewelry box and wooden toys, as well as special holiday projects. Chances were very good that on any given day, a grandchild could stop by and end up sanding, gluing or maybe just snacking on cashews while he tinkered. Jim and Laura Lee’s doors were always open to family, for a meal, a birthday party or just an afternoon visit. All the family enjoyed his sense of humor and were amazed how long he maintained his quick wit. Support, generosity, thoughtfulness and love drove Jim’s dedication to his family.
The couple’s move to StoneRidge senior living community in 2005 happened just as Laura Lee started to experience health issues. Jim lovingly provided around-the-clock care for her for several years. As Jim’s own health began to decline more recently, the family was grateful for Leland, who willingly and selflessly cared for his father, especially as family visits became restricted in 2020. Jim’s family thanks staff from Seniors Helping Seniors, StoneRidge and Avalon who helped keep Jim comfortable and provided assistance to him.
In addition to his wife, Jim was predeceased by his sister, Marian Bailly, and brother, John Burbank.
Jim is survived by his children Leland Burbank, Scott Burbank (Terry), and Bettina Burbank (Paul Kirshen), and grandchildren Sean Burbank (Elena Braun), Kolleen Burbank (Evan MacCarthy), Andrew Kirshen (and family), Leland Kirshen and Xander Kirshen. He is further survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins. He is missed dearly.
To honor Jim’s commitment to the community, a needs-based scholarship fund is being established in his name at the Mystic Museum of Art (formerly MAA) for art classes for local students. Donations may be made to the Mystic Museum of Art, 9 Water St., Mystic, CT 06355 for the Jim Burbank Scholarship Fund. If you prefer, please donate to a food bank in your community.
Mystic - Jim Burbank passed away Dec. 27, 2020. Due to the Coronavirus no memorial service was held at that time.
The Burbank Family will be hosting a Celebration of Life for Jim. The event will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, at the Mystic Museum of Art, 9 Water Street, Mystic. This was his favorite place to volunteer. Parking will be complimentary for those attending the celebration. The family is looking forward to seeing old friends and acquaintances. The Burbanks kindly request an RSVP if you will be attending. You can contact Scott at either [email protected] or 860-303-1423 for your RSVP.
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