Spencer W. Burney

Manchester, NH - Spencer W. Burney, M.D., age 82, formerly of Bedford, NH, Waltham and Wellesley, MA., died at Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH on April 13, 2008 with family by his side. Dr. Burney was born in Winchendon, MA on March 31, 1926. The son of Lawrence W. and Phoebe Dawson Burney, he grew up in Charlestown, NH attending 11 years of school there and graduating from Springfield Vt. High School in 1943. He spent 2 1/2 years in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. He would recall his ship lying in Saipan Harbor in the Pacific Ocean and the sky being black with bombers from the Tinian Islands bombing Japan 24 hours a day; and having his vaccination booth at a street corner in downtown Seattle, WA vaccinating the people during the last major outbreak of smallpox in the U.S. After the war he became laboratory technician and worked at numerous hospitals in New England. He was recalled to active duty in the Korean conflict and spent over 2 years at Chelsea Naval Hospital in Chelsea, MA., eventually attaining the grade of HM1 (E-6). He was the first Commander of the Post 8494 VFW in Charlestown, NH in 1946-'47. Dr. Burney did Pre-Medical studies at the University of New Hampshire and graduated from the University of Vermont, College of Medicine in 1962. He interned in Pathology at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, and the Deaconess/Baptist Hospital in Boston, MA. He also did a year as a Research Associate at the Cancer Institute of the Deaconess. He was Board Certified in Anatomical and Clinical Pathology in 1967. He became Chief, Laboratory Services at the Veteran's Administration Outpatient Clinic in downtown Boston, MA and served there for 20 years. During that period he was also Medical Director of the VA Normative Aging Study. Dr. Burney gave and published numerous papers in the area of Aging. He retired from the VA in 1987. He then served as a physician at the Armed Forces Entrance Station in Boston, MA for several years while at the same time carrying out private physical examinations for his private corporation. In 1971 he was commissioned as a Reserve Officer in the United States Army. His Army career involved commanding the 323rd Medical Laboratory and as Chief Professional Services of the 323rd General Hospital and the 309th Field Hospital. He retired at age 65 in 1992 as a Colonel. During his Army career he had two tours of 2-week duty in Honduras, Central America. Dr. Burney was also a physician for the Massachusetts Special Olympics for several years supporting their annual championship(s). He was recipient of the Army Commendation Medal (x2) and the Army Achievement Medal (x2). He was always an outdoors type, loving hunting and fishing. He was a member of the NRA, Trout Unlimited, the Izaak Walton League and the North American Fishing Club. He spent many years salmon fishing on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick, Canada. Dr. Burney was pre-deceased by his wife of 46 years, Gloria Gregory. He is survived by two daughters, Priscilla Burney of Winthrop, MA and Meredith Haapanen of Boston, MA; three sisters, Bonita Mitten of Milton, MA, Glenna Phelps of Scottsdale, AZ, and Jane French of Bellows Falls, VT. He is also survived by two granddaughters, Tanya and Tabitha of Winthrop, MA; as well as many cousins, nephews, nieces and friends residing in the New England area and beyond. His motto was, "For a kid from Charlestown, NH, it's been one hell of a ride". Cremation arrangements by Phaneuf Funeral Home in Manchester, NH with ashes interred at the NH Veteran's Cemetery in Boscawen, NH. A memorial service is planned for early July. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA, 22203-1606, or online at www.nature.org.