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Eulogy for Bill Burns by Terry Braunstein
March 1, 2010
Bill Burns was not only a fellow curler, he was also my favorite realtor and MOST IMPORTANTLY he was my good friend
Over the past six months you would never have known that there was anything wrong with him – if you judged him only by his attitude. Even though he knew that the end was inevitable he was the same old Bill – upbeat and enthusiastic.
He could talk about his medical problems freely and openly and in typical Bill Burns fashion, always referred to himself as a healthy man who just happened to be visiting with a lot of doctors.
We all have heroes in life and Bill was truly one of mine, because of the manner in which he always conducted himself.
- He did everything with great enthusiasm and always gave it 112% - no matter what he was involved in
- He had an incredibly positive attitude
- He always saw the best in everyone – and more importantly had time for everyone from the most important person in his life to someone he hardly knew
- He always conducted himself with great moral integrity
Whenever I spent time with him I always left feeling that everything was all right with this world.
Having lived in this city for most of my life I have gotten to know a tremendous number of people and I have yet to talk to anyone who ever had an unkind word to say about Bill – he was universally liked by everyone he came into contact with.
I first met Bill at the Granite Curling Club many, many years ago.
He wasn’t the greatest curler in the world – but he might have been the most enthusiastic
He loved the sport of curling and played it with great passion – but not with great skill.
He might have had greater success in the sport, but unfortunately he was saddled with two of the lousiest curlers in the world as his teammates – Bud Langtry and Keith Kilborn – two of Bill’s very good friends.
He didn’t have a chance with these two on his team!
Although, they may have not have been great curlers I don’t think any team ever had more fun than theirs – which is really what it’s all about in the end.
I think his proudest curling achievement was at the Grey Cup bonspiel in Hamilton in the early 1980s. His team lost their first two games and was quickly relegated to the consolation event.
In the consolation event they received a bye in their first game. In the semi – finals, which was their second game in the Consolation, the other team was forced to default to them after two ends – sending Bill and his team directly into the finals.
They were then soundly whipped in the final – so they gratefully accepted their prize as runner up in the Consolation event.
They are the only team I’ve ever heard of who never won a single game in an entire bonspiel and still ended up with a prize of four, color television sets.
Bill ran the Granite Curling club Junior Girls program for several years. He was there every single Saturday morning recruiting the kids and encouraging them with his usual enthusiasm. The Juniors were the backbone of the club and they were the most important ingredient in ensuring the club’s future. Bill was totally aware of this and was dedicated to making it happen – in addition to the fact that he really enjoyed working with young people.
His Junior programs enjoyed great success and he was rewarded with the satisfaction of knowing he played a key role in provincial championships. Bill was famous for sending every one of his junior teams off to the provincials with a care package that often included band aids, can openers, gum, candy bars, etc – and always with some silly pun that the girls would mock him about later – but which they always remembered.
Bill Burns has been the Master of Ceremonies at every meaningful Granite CC social function over the past thirty years and he did a masterful job every single time with his booming baritone voice and his great sense of humor.
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He was also bold enough to frequently offer his curling services to World Champion curlers Jeff Ryan and Kerry Burtnyk, in case they really needed his polished skills for a major event. Jeff and Kerry have very close connections to the Burns family and were always extremely polite in declining Bill’s kind offers to assist them in seeking yet another championship.
Several years ago Bill was made an Honorary Life Member of the Granite Curling Club for his long and tireless dedication to the club. It is a particularly great honor in his case because he is one of the very few appointed to that honor soley for the great work he did for the club, as opposed to having it awarded automatically to him as a result of winning a Canadian or World Curling championship.
Bill was also an avid golfer – but unfortunately he only attained approximately the same skill level as he did with his curling. Again, no golfer, did it with more enthusiasm or had more fun than Bill.
He was, however, a great orator, and likely was the most called upon of all the volunteer speakers who assist the United Way. In his normal fashion Bill would willingly go whenever or wherever, he was asked, to deliver the important message of giving to this city’s community institutions.
I, personally, have been reflecting a lot since Bill’s passing, and also over the tragic deaths this past year, of 3 other people that I was very close to. I find it curious how many of us sometimes take other people for granted – especially those closest to us.
Often, it’s only after they are gone that we really think deeply about them and truly gain a full appreciation of what they really stood for, how much they meant to us, and how much we will really miss them in our lives.
This world has been a far better place for those who spent time with Bill Burns during the 77 years he has graced our presence because, he stood for and reflected everything that is good in a human being.
Bill – you will be sadly missed by all of us.
