Obituary for Don R. Burn
Don R. Burn, 91, longtime resident of Enfield, beloved husband of the late Anna (Grasso) Burn, passed away with his family by his side on Monday, March 29, 2021, at Hartford Hospital.
Born in Detroit, Michigan on June 30, 1929, he was the son of the late George and Erma (Ohmacht) Burn and grew up in Villa Park, IL. He married Anna Grasso in 1955 and they made their home in Enfield in 1962. Don and Ann, as her friends called her, were active members of Calvary Presbyterian Church where Don enjoyed being a Deacon, playing in the handbell choir, welcoming people to his church, and praying with and for them.
Don honorably served in the US Navy for 20 years before retiring as Senior Chief Petty Officer. As a member of our nation’s silent fleet, Don spent his days at sea beneath the waves during the Korean War and Cold War. His meritorious career included being a plank owner of the second nuclear-powered submarine, the Seawolf (SSN 575), setting records for being submerged for 60 days, and sailing beneath the polar ice cap. As a student of the first class to graduate from nuclear power training school, he later returned as a teacher where he helped the next generation of submariners learn how to safely control the awesome power of a nuclear reactor.
After retiring from the Navy, Don launched a second career as a supplier supporting nuclear power plants across the United States with Combustion Engineering (ABB). During that time he earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Asnuntuck Community College. He was an assistant coach for the bowling league at the Thompsonville Bowl (now home of the Enfield Square) and helped his sons build many a pinewood derby car for Cub Scouts.
A loving husband, devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, Navy Veteran and friend, Don will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Don leaves four loving children, Donna (Burn) Gagnon and her husband, Raymond, of The Villages, Florida, David Burn and his wife, Roberta, of Berlin, Douglas Burn and his wife, Cindy Trout, of Broomfield, Colorado, and Darren Burn and his wife, Rowenna, of East Windsor; six grandchildren, Matthew and Devin Gagnon, Sean and Stefan Burn, Avani Joy Visone, and Alan Burn; eight great-grandchildren; and his sister Suzanne (Burn) Hendricks. Besides his wife Anna, he was predeceased by three siblings, William Vaughn, George and Shirley Burn.
Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, April 2, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South Road, Enfield.
His Funeral will be held on Saturday, April 3, at 10:30 a.m., at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 1518 King St., Enfield. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Hazardville Cemetery, Enfield.
Memorial donations may be made to the United States Submarine Veterans Charitable Foundation, https://www.ussvcf.org/
For online condolences, please visit www.leetestevens.com
Born in Detroit, Michigan on June 30, 1929, he was the son of the late George and Erma (Ohmacht) Burn and grew up in Villa Park, IL. He married Anna Grasso in 1955 and they made their home in Enfield in 1962. Don and Ann, as her friends called her, were active members of Calvary Presbyterian Church where Don enjoyed being a Deacon, playing in the handbell choir, welcoming people to his church, and praying with and for them.
Don honorably served in the US Navy for 20 years before retiring as Senior Chief Petty Officer. As a member of our nation’s silent fleet, Don spent his days at sea beneath the waves during the Korean War and Cold War. His meritorious career included being a plank owner of the second nuclear-powered submarine, the Seawolf (SSN 575), setting records for being submerged for 60 days, and sailing beneath the polar ice cap. As a student of the first class to graduate from nuclear power training school, he later returned as a teacher where he helped the next generation of submariners learn how to safely control the awesome power of a nuclear reactor.
After retiring from the Navy, Don launched a second career as a supplier supporting nuclear power plants across the United States with Combustion Engineering (ABB). During that time he earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Asnuntuck Community College. He was an assistant coach for the bowling league at the Thompsonville Bowl (now home of the Enfield Square) and helped his sons build many a pinewood derby car for Cub Scouts.
A loving husband, devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, Navy Veteran and friend, Don will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Don leaves four loving children, Donna (Burn) Gagnon and her husband, Raymond, of The Villages, Florida, David Burn and his wife, Roberta, of Berlin, Douglas Burn and his wife, Cindy Trout, of Broomfield, Colorado, and Darren Burn and his wife, Rowenna, of East Windsor; six grandchildren, Matthew and Devin Gagnon, Sean and Stefan Burn, Avani Joy Visone, and Alan Burn; eight great-grandchildren; and his sister Suzanne (Burn) Hendricks. Besides his wife Anna, he was predeceased by three siblings, William Vaughn, George and Shirley Burn.
Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, April 2, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South Road, Enfield.
His Funeral will be held on Saturday, April 3, at 10:30 a.m., at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 1518 King St., Enfield. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Hazardville Cemetery, Enfield.
Memorial donations may be made to the United States Submarine Veterans Charitable Foundation, https://www.ussvcf.org/
For online condolences, please visit www.leetestevens.com