Andrew Joseph Burns

Andy departed this world at 4:40 a.m. Thursday, February 19, 2015 in San Jose after a valiant 10-day struggle following a bleeding stroke.

Andy was one of 12 children born in Newcastle, England, to Elizabeth Badger Burns and Andrew Joseph Burns on April 28, 1950.

Raised in poverty and in a poor home environment, he left St. Bedes school in Jarrow at age 15 and worked at many jobs. Having been robbed of a formal education, he rarely talked to people other than very polite greetings. At one job he met an older co-worker who recognized his potential and mentored him for six years. During this time Andy flourished and his superior intellect became apparent.

He was a voracious reader and soon became very knowledgeable on many subjects. He memorized most of the dictionary during those years and boy, did he use those words! He was shop steward for the union for many years and did an excellent job in negotiations. You didn't want to go up against Andy Burns.

Before leaving England and moving to Windsor, Ontario, Canada for sixteen years, Andy was a police officer (special constable) in Somerset. He was outstanding in that job because he knew how to handle situations without escalating them. He was very much respected. In Canada he worked in security for the Canadian Coast Guard, and later Brighton Beach, with Commissionaires Security.

Andy had many interests. He played soccer, or football as the rest of the world calls it, in his school years, and always cheered on Sunderland, his favorite team. He was a table tennis champion, and won many online Scrabble tournaments. He was a Beatles fanatic and knew everything there was to know about them. The same is true of football, golf and tennis trivia. He wowed many when competing in quizzes at the pubs in England. In his teens he learned to play the guitar and realized that he could sing. He sang and played the guitar with his brother Paul and in a group on weekends to supplement his income. Many people encouraged him to get a manager and go professional, but that kind of life never appealed to him. He had over a thousand songs in his repertoire.

In February, 2010, Andy met his soulmate and love of his life, Kathleen Heinrich, through their mutual love and admiration for Scottish singer Susan Boyle. As a result of this blossoming storybook romance, Andy returned to his childhood devotion to God. They were married June 6, 2013. Andy described these 20 months as the happiest time of his life, and praised God daily for granting at the end of his life the miracle that he had prayed for all his life.

Andy had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. He was very outgoing, very polite, and was a wonderful humanitarian. We will miss his laughter and deep-thinking serious side.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Jimmy, Betty, and Olive.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Kathleen; his daughters in England who were his pride and joy, Louise Woolacott and Christine Burns; and his two grandchildren, Georgia and Ethan. He also leaves in England brothers, Paul and John; sisters, Mavis, Nancy, Jean, Pat, Moira, and Sandra; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

A Graveside Service will be held at Fresno Memorial Gardens, corner of Whitesbridge and Cornelia, on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

Remembrances may be sent to The Salvation Army or to the donor's favorite charity in Andy's memory.