James Laurence Burns Jr.

James Laurence Burns, Jr., of Boston and Quechee, VT, passed away on Saturday, December 24th, 2011, at his home in Quechee.  He was born on March 19, 1938 in Boston. He is the son of the late James Laurence Burns and Lillian (McColgan).  He grew up in Dorchester and Braintree, MA.  He is a Double Eagle, graduating from Boston College High School in 1955 and magna cum laude from Boston College in 1959 (Golden Eagle).  Jim also received a degree from Williams College School of Banking.  He served for 17 years in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserves completing his service with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Jim worked in the Banking and Financial Industry, beginning his career at State Street Bank in Boston as Assistant Treasurer in the Investment Division.  He then served for 40 years as the Executive Vice President of the Cooperative Central Bank of Massachusetts.  He was the CEO, President and Founder of the Bank Investment Fund, a Boston based mutual fund.  He was Chairman of the Board of the National Cooperative Bank based in Washington, D.C., New York City and Anchorage, Alaska.  He served on the National Conference Board in New York City, London and Brussels.  He also served for a time as an advisor to the Australian Government and the Australian Financial Services Industry.  He retired in 2002. He served on the Board of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Boston and as Chairman of the Board of The Boston Conservatory. He leaves his beloved wife of 48 years Carol M. (Neely).  They married in 1963 at St. Brendan’s in Dorchester and lived in Braintree and Pembroke before settling in Beacon Hill in 1986. In addition to his wife, Jim is survived by his loving family, daughters Corinne Kelly and her husband Jeffrey of Summit, NJ, Nancy Cunningham and her husband Jeffrey of Greensboro, NC,  and Kathy Whitacre and her husband Michael of Oceanport, NJ, and his son Andrew J. Burns  and his girlfriend, Stephanie Dabruzzi of Belmont, MA.  He also leaves his cherished grandchildren Anthony Cunningham, Jillian Cunningham, Brendan Kelly, Brian Kelly and Jackson Whitacre and Chase Whitacre. He is also survived by his sister Anne Marie Hayes of Dennisport, MA and her family and his cousin and great friend Robert Hirtle of Harwich. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Agatha Church, Adams Street at Brook Road, Milton, Thursday December 29 at 10:30 AM. Relatives and friemds invited. Visiting hours at Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, MILTON, Wednesday 4-8 PM.  In lieu of flowers donations in Jim’s memory may be made to a wounded veterans charity of one’s choice.