Obituary: Charles F. Burns, 85, of Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT - (From Wallingford Funeral Home) Charles F. Burns, 85, of Wallingford, died Friday, November 5, 2021 surrounded by his loving family at Yale New Haven Hospital.

He was the beloved husband of Margaret (Stevens) Burns and beloved father of Scott and Daniel Burns.

Charlie was born on February 14, 1936 in Detroit, Michigan but shortly after went to live with his aunt and uncle in Toronto, Canada where he discovered his passion for hockey.

Charlie chose Canadian citizenship in 1957 to become a member of the 1958 world champion Whitby Dunlops.

He eventually went on to be named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Charlie turned professional with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1958-59 season and was known throughout his long-playing career for being an excellent skater, a strategic defensive player, and for being one of the first to wear a helmet.

In addition to the Red Wings, Charlie played in the National Hockey League as a member of the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota North Stars, and California Seals and in the American Hockey League for the New Haven Nighthawks.

He had four turns as a player-coach: twice with the San Francisco Seals, once with the Minnesota North Stars, and once with the New Haven Nighthawks.

He coached the North Stars again in 1974-75 after his retirement which allowed him to reunite with his lifelong best friends Bobby and Diana Kirschner.

Over the next five decades, Charlie’s love for the game of hockey and all sports continued through coaching and mentoring both his sons, Scott and Daniel, along with thousands of others.

Throughout the 1990’s he served as director of coaches and was the longest serving president in Wallingford Hawks Youth Hockey Association history.

He continued coaching his sons and others with the Connecticut Clippers, Connecticut Lazers, and UCONN Club teams.

In addition to his time on the ice, Charlie worked for Sikorsky for over 30 years. He was a dedicated employee and made countless friends over the course of his career as he was always a source of joy and laughter. Charlie’s magnetic personality, boundless positivity, and kind spirit left a mark on all who met him.

Charlie shared his life with his loving wife Marge whom he married on November 8th, 1975. He was a wonderful father to his sons and their spouses Scott and Crissy Burns and Daniel and Kim Burns; he was also a beloved “Grampy” to his granddaughters, Kennedy and McKinley Burns.

In addition to those listed above, Charlie is survived by his mother-in-law, Virginia Stevens, and his cousins, Robin Scharf, Matthew and Sarah Tylinski and Brian and Katie Tylinski.

His family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext. on Wednesday, November 10th, from 4 pm to 7 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10 am directly at Church of the Resurrection, 115 Pond Hill Rd., Wallingford.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to the Wallingford Hawks Youth Hockey, P.O. Box 644, Wallingford, CT 06492.