Patrick Albert Burns

Patrick will be lovingly remembered by his children: Stacie (Kent) Smith, Allison Burns, Christopher Burns, Matthew Burns, Chris (Tammy) Imbrogno, & Jason (Dawn) Imbrogno, siblings: Barbara Lach, Michael (Sallee) Burns, Tim (Kathy) Burns and former wife Peggy Keener. He will be missed by his cherished grandchildren: Matthew & Connor Smith, Erica & Daniel Palmer, Cameron & Kendall Burns, Zach & Dominick Imbrogno, Casey & Leah Imborgno. He will be dearly missed by his nieces, nephews and cousins as well as numerous friends.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 33 years June A. Imbrogno Burns, parents Agnes & Albert Burns, sister JoAnn Huber, brother-in-law Dr. Ralph Lach, daughter Andrea Burns, and granddaughter Carson Burns.

Patrick was born in Defiance, Ohio on Aug. 7, 1934, to Albert and Agnes Burns, the second of 5 children. Patrick had strong loving memories of Defiance. His upbringing instilled in him the importance of family, faith, and hard work. He created life-long friendships and his connections to Defiance was evident by his frequent trips back home.

After graduating from Defiance High School in 1952, Patrick attended Miami University. He became a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, creating strong and lasting relationships that he treasured throughout his lifetime.

In 1955, he transferred to Kent State University to pursue a degree in architecture, graduating in 1957. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Fort Knox in Kentucky.

In 1959, he began his architecture career at the firm of Joseph Baker & Associates in Newark, Ohio. In 1962, the Burns Family moved to Columbus, Ohio where Patrick went to work with the firm of Brooks & Coddington Architects and where he passed his Ohio State Boards in 1964. Patrick also had the opportunity to learn with additional talented firms: Blum & Sedeem Architects, John P. Gibboney & Associates and Eschliman Associates. Between 1971 and 1975, Patrick took a unique career path by working with Multicon Properties & Communities, with a focus upon multi-family design.

In 1975, he founded Patrick A Burns Architects, specializing in small commercial and residential projects. His brilliance was creating outside the box solutions for his clients. He had the innate ability to listen to clients and understand their requests. As a result, clients became devoted friends. Patrick’s passion for his work and these relationships contributed to his many successes and recognitions.

In 1988, Pat met and married June and they began their PB&J journey. They took great care in combining two families, creating special traditions and memories. They spent their winters at their home in Bonita Springs, Florida where they were constantly hosting friends and family members.

Pat was the type of person who never sat idle and always “had a project to do”. You would see him detailing his days, with his meticulous small print, in his pocket Day Timer. If he wasn’t completing a project you’d find him reading his AIA Newspaper or enjoying a competitive game of tennis. He had a love for music, especially jazz and he enjoyed the harmonic voices of a Barbershop Quartet. He possessed the special art of pulling people together. He loved to host parties and if you were ever invited to a Pat Burns Party, you knew that “YOU” were the party. But his favorite pastime was to sit with a friend or family member and reminisce.

Pat was a man with an engaging smile and friendly eyes that welcomed everyone around him. He was strong willed with an enjoyable sense of humor and quick wit. His spontaneous and gregarious nature often had him calling you because it was your birthday or knocking at your door because he was in the neighborhood. His favorite greeting was “Hi Kids” and ended phone conversations with “Keep Smiling”.

His departure will be gravely felt by his entire family, countless friends, clients and others who loved him deeply. What an incredible life story he wrote, leaving a lovely footprint, a beacon of light on many. We will miss his signature whistle, sharing a scoop of ice cream and his legacy of kindness, compassion and tenacity.

He deeply loved his family and friends and oftentimes reflected on how grateful and fortunate he was for his blessed life.

A special thanks to those devoted and compassionate friends, family and caregivers that contributed to Patrick’s quality of life in these past few years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Nationwide Children’s Hospital – the Kids Mental Health Foundation On Our Sleeves for Children’s Mental Health https://give.nationwidechildrens.org/site/Donation2?df_id=8261&mfc_pref=T&8261.donation=form1 or mail to Kids Mental Health Foundation P.O. Box 548, Columbus, OH 43216-0548.

Friends and family are invited to gather for a Celebration of Life on Sunday, July 21, 2024 from 1PM-3PM at Schoedinger Northwest Chapel (1740 Zollinger Rd in Columbus 43221).