After struggling for some time with various health complications, Andrew Burt passed away at Delta Hospital, with his dear wife, Glenna, his daughter, Heather (Paul), and son, Jim (Kelly) at his side. He was 87 years old. Throughout his life, Andy touched countless people with his compassion and kindness, his friendliness and gentle humour, his wisdom, his generosity, and his integrity. Those of us who knew and loved him are missing him terribly, but we’re also profoundly grateful for the gift of his presence in our lives.
Condensing a life as long and full as Andy’s into a few paragraphs is impossible. Here are some highlights …
Andrew was born in Montreal, to John Burt, a coppersmith from Scotland, and Irene Burt (née Blackie), a musician and fifth-generation Canadian. Andrew’s sister, Anne, was twelve when he came along, and in years to come, her sons, Don and Rob Shepherd, would be big fans of their young, athletic Uncle “Anew.”
Andy spent his early childhood in the working-class neighbourhood of Maisonneuve, where, one day in 1941, he befriended the boy across the street, Wendell Maclean. Twenty-odd years later, Wendell played the bagpipes at Andy’s wedding to Glenna Bates, the McGill Teaching College classmate who’d stolen his heart. In the early summer of 2021, Wendell and Andy marked 80 years of friendship, while Andy and Glenna celebrated 63 years of loving partnership. Those lifelong bonds were entirely in keeping with Andy’s character and values.
Through the 1960s and ’70s, Andy brought his skills and empathy to a variety of professional roles in Montreal: he was a teacher in a multi-age program for children with disabilities, a grade 7 classroom teacher, a high school guidance counsellor and vice-principal, and an elementary school principal. At home, and on a multitude of family excursions, he and Glenna created a loving, supportive, fun, and enriching world for Heather and Jim. Scores of other kids in their neighbourhood benefitted from Andy’s contributions to organized sports.
In 1978, Andy was recruited to coordinate the Richmond School District’s brand-new French immersion program. The family packed up and moved across the country, to Tsawwassen, where Glenna’s mother, brother, and sister-in-law had already settled. In the years that followed, Andy worked passionately to develop the immersion program and, more importantly, to support the students and teachers in his care. On the home front, he became “Uncie” to nephews Alan and Douglas and niece Mollie, whom he adored.
We think the nickname “Action Andy” came about with Andy’s midlife running career, which advanced to the half-marathon level. But the name fit in many ways. After retiring from teaching in 1995, Andy enthusiastically embarked on new projects, all of them centred on helping others and building connections. For many years, he and Glenna fostered guide dog puppies for BC Guide Dogs (anyone who’s lived with a young Lab knows the stamina and good humour required for that gig!). Along with his good friend and former colleague Jim McPherson, he worked for Holland America cruise lines, greeting and assisting passengers at the airport. And, through Andy’s genealogical research, our family came to know and love cousin David, his wife, Shona, and many other Scottish relatives.
Andy loved to travel, especially in a camper van or aboard a cruise ship. In their retirement years, he and Glenna visited many parts of the world and added dozens of friends to their (hard-bound) address book. He was a keen follower of Canadian politics—always with an eye to justice and equality—and if you look up “Loyal Habs Fans,” you’ll find Andy’s name. He rooted for his team in their golden era and never gave up on them when the Cup victories petered out (temporarily, of course).
That said, the biggest commitment of this man who took all his commitments very seriously was to his family, whom he loved deeply and steadfastly to the end.
A celebration of Andy’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Downtown Eastside ministry of First United Church, whose work and values Andy embraced, or to a charity of your choice.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Andrew Burt June 5th 1934 July 16th 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Aldergrove, Province: Colombie britanique