Obituary of Alan David Burnham

Alan “David” Burnham passed away from complications of MS on April 8, 2024, on the morning of the eclipse and just one day short of his 76th birthday. He was the second child of Ruel Dudley and Alice Burnham’s seven surviving children. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1948, he traveled the world as a child of a military family. He lived in Tampa, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee Florida. He lived in Texas (twice),California (twice), Japan, Taiwan, and Ohio. His family eventually moved to Maine where, other than a year in Massachusetts, he spent the rest of his life. He attended University of Maine at Orono majoring in Electrical Engineering, and later studied at University of Maine at Augusta..

David’s working career spanned decades of automotive repair, including owning Precision Service Company in Jay. He was an excellent mechanic, but it wasn’t his passion. Soon after getting his first computer he found his calling. He studied for and earned his Microsoft Certified System Engineer certification and eventually became an Internet Technology professional at International Paper in Jay, Maine.

He loved his home on his “little mountain” in Carthage Maine, and his garden was precious to him. He always claimed that his bountiful garden was one of the inspirations for David Mallett’s Garden Song. David loved his dogs, particularly Shep, Matt the Big Black Dog, and Judge the Big White Dog.

One of his proudest accomplishments was getting his pilot’s license. He bought a tail-dragger- a Taylorcraft and spent many hours in the sky. He was a good pilot and a member of the Jay Birds flying club. He loved music and played the guitar. While he loved rock and roll, he also enjoyed some country and folk music. A couple of his favorites were Long Tall Texan and Streets of Laredo.

David was generous, and when he had money he spent it on friends and family. Decades ago, after he started his first job, he bought a big color TV as a wonderful surprise for his family. He never missed a family holiday event or any of the picnics, and his colorful attire was always a hit .

He bravely fought through over twenty years of MS, but did eventually need nursing home care. His brother Mike helped him as much as he could and would visit him when he was in the Rumford nursing home. Last year he moved to Gray Birch in Augusta where his sisters could visit more frequently, especially Cathy, who lived the closest. She was a lifeline for David as was his sister Sylvia, who handled the mountains of insurance, Medicare, and other paperwork. All of his siblings pitched in to make sure he had whatever he needed and wanted.

David loved his technology. While in the nursing home he had a Roku TV, a tablet, at least one or two phones, and any healthcare gadgets he could get his hands on. He kept in contact with family through his devices, especially his brother Mike. Over the past two years he maintained close contact with his sisters on Google Chat, reminiscing, keeping them updated, and sending pictures. Google Chat now has an empty space without him.

David is survived by his sister Sylvia and her husband Daniel Ouellette, his brother Michael Burnham, his sister Susan and her husband Peter Hall, his sister Christina Burnham, his sister Cathy Burnham and her husband Jeff Noel, his sister Caroline and her husband Paul Lienhardt, plus many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Dudley Burnham and Alice Burnham, Michael’s wife, Janyce, and Christina’s husband, Chris Bennet.

A graveside service will be held at 1 PM on June 1st at the Severy Hill Cemetery, followed by a gathering of friends and family at the AmVets Hall, 111 Main Street, Jay.

So beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly, as this old cowboy is carried home.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on his Tribute Wall.