Obituary of James H. Burbo

James H. Burbo, 89, of Grand Isle, VT died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Sunday March 7, 2021, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

He was born in Burlington in 1932, eldest son of the late Howard and Viola (Houde) Burbo.  He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1950.  After serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War, he returned to earn degrees in Electrical Engineering and Physics at the University of Vermont in 1956 and 1958.

He worked as an electro-optical engineer in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Virginia and Vermont, contributing to the technologies of instrument testing, infrared reconnaissance and countermeasures, night vision equipment, and ultraviolet photolithography.  He was the author of a number of technical papers, and member of various professional and scientific societies.  He held professional engineering licenses from Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Jim was an emergency medical technician, and served on ski patrols and rescue squads in Virginia and Vermont. He was a lifelong skier and marksman, competing locally, regionally and occasionally nationally.

He is survived by his wife Marguerite (Peggy) Herrera Burbo, whom he married in 1958 in Cranston, Rhode Island, and by four sons:  Michael and his wife Carla, of Media, PA; Gregory and his wife Kimberly, of Milton, VT; Andrew and his wife Kimberly of Windham, NH; and Thomas and his wife Heidi of Grand Isle, VT.  He is survived by his brother, Philip Burbo of West Sound, WA, his sister Irene Knight of South Burlington, VT and five grandchildren:  Damian Burbo of Grand Isle, VT; Joshua Burbo of Plattsburg, NY; Sam and Nicholas Burbo of Media, PA; and Ryan Burbo of Windham, NH. 

The Burbo family would like to acknowledge the extraordinary work of Debbie Holmes for her deeply devoted and compassionate care of Jim during the last years of his life. Her commitment  made a world of difference to us.  

Services will be held in the spring or summer.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to your local rescue squad.