James E. Burns

James (Jim) Edward Burns passed away September 14th in the presence of his loving family at age 83 after a yearslong battle with prostate cancer.

Jim was born on November 9, 1940, in Muse, PA, a small coal mining town southwest of Pittsburgh to James Raymond Burns and Mary (Belleno) Burns. His father was killed in a mine accident when Jim was just six years old. An only child, he was raised by a single mother with the support of loving extended Italian and Irish family in town. He attended college and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1962 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation, he accepted a job at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) in Schenectady, NY, and shortly thereafter married the love of his life Judith (Judy) Virginia Weber, who was from the “big city” of Canonsburg, PA a few miles from Muse.

Jim had a rewarding 42-year career at KAPL. He obtained his master’s degree in engineering from RPI while working half time the first two years. He rose through the ranks into senior management at the lab, but one of his proudest accomplishments was the role of lead engineer for the design and development of the “A1G” reactor, the power plant for the US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carriers that are still in service today.

Jim was proud not only of his professional achievements starting from his humble roots in a small coal mining town, but also of being a loving husband and father who raised four children.

He is pre-deceased by his wife of 57 years, Judy, and survived by his children Colleen (Robert) Briggs, Jim (Marcie) Burns, Susan (Rebecca Armfield) Burns, Michael (Hongyan Zhu) Burns, as well as grandchildren Dylan, Haley, and Ever.

A private service will be held in the coming days. Anyone wishing to honor Jim’s memory is welcome to make a donation in his name to the City Mission of Schenectady.

Arrangements are by Jones Funeral Home, 2020 Central Avenue, Colonie. To leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.jonesfh.net.