Christopher Burritt Obituary

Chris often went on our river trip to the boat yard or to the lake. He was called the "slug" because he did not have a boat. Chris always arrived for the long trip with a box of doughnuts!!! We loved them and him!

I will never forget Chris. I have the image of us taking "Darfin" down the river with his huge box of donuts!!

I will never forget my colleague and fellow Columbia College film school classmate Chris Burritt. Goodby, dear friend.

The guest book may be closed but Chris will never be forgotten family.
Marge (Hayes) Calvert

I was so happy to see additional notes to you from those growing up on Linden Ave. and going to school with Chris, my son, Tim Hayes, now living in Wimberly, Texas with his family, Barbara Anton, etc. There are times when his name would come up within my family, Mike, Tim, Kathy, Susan, and the fun they all had living
on the same block. He will never be forgotten by us. Marge(Hayes)Calvert

I will always remember Chris and his love for the Titanic history, trains, films, dogs, great local stories, the Columbia Yacht Club, his wonderful attitude and love of life. He was a great neighbor and was always a fun part of my life. We all will miss him. He lived his life well and was loved much, that's not bad-though too short a time with us.

I was sddened to just hear of Chris' passing. I was a classmate of Chris at St. Giles School. He seemed like a nice quiet fellow as a student. My prayers are with him and his family.

We were saddened to see that Chris had passed away. My family (The Anton's) lived next door to the Burritts in Oak Park for many years. I haven't seen Chris in recent years but my brother, Sarge, visited him on his last visit home.
Our deepest sympathies and condolences to Susan, Penny, Mary, Richard and all of Chris' family.

Dear Friends,

The "West Coast Production" Memorial for Chris Burritt, beloved instructor, mentor, and friend will take place this Saturday, January 19th, at 11am. The Hollywood Forever Cemetery, located at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood, is graciously allowing us to hold our memorial next to the Douglas Fairbanks tomb on the southeast end of the cemetery.

This Memorial will be open to anyone, regardless of how well they knew Chris. If you have stories to share, photos, favorite Burritt quotes, anything like that, please bring them. We will devote as much time as needed to hearing each other tell stories and remember Chris together. If you do not wish to share anything, we will love to have you there to listen. We know how much Chris meant to so many people, how nurturing, funny, and influential he was, and we intend to have any and everyone who wants to share feel welcome.

As this will be informal, we encourage you to bring a picnic blanket (there will not be chairs, and we will be outdoors on the lawn.) The weather is supposed to be nice this weekend, but we recommend bringing a bottle of water and/or sunscreen in case it gets hot.

We would appreciate an RSVP so we can give an approximate headcount to the Cemetery, but we don't want you to feel that you can't come if you don't RSVP. We also encourage you to pass this information along to anyone that we may have missed. It would be wonderful if as many of his former students/colleagues could join us as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact myself or Becky Doppelt, our contact information is below. We apologize for the short notice and we will miss those of you who cannot make it, but you will be with us in spirit!

We hope to see you on Saturday. Thank you!

Sincerely,
Annick Wolkan
[email protected]
310-869-8687

Becky Doppelt
[email protected]
630-881-4671

Below, please find a map of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Again, we are meeting in the southwest corner by the Fairbanks tomb, right next to where the movies are projected in the summertime.

http://www.seeing-stars.com/Maps/HollywoodMemorialMap(full).shtml

(it is the red dot near the lower right hand of the map)

We are so shocked and so sad. We will miss Chris tremendously. He was so generous so helpful, so humble. I can’t believe I will never be able to talk with him again.

Dear Susan, We have never met and my original note was directed to the Burritt family I knew so well when we all lived on Lnden Ave. in Oak Park.
But I feel I have neglected to send my note to you
and I want you to know my heart goes out to you for your loss. I remmember Chris as always being a pleasure to have in my home while they attended St. Giles school and OPRF High School. Reading how so many people felt about him, it must give you a wonderful feeling to know how much he was appreciated
and enjoyed as a friend. Marge Calvert

Dear Susan, Although I worked with Chris professionally through Televent, he was my railroad buddy. I first met him 20 or so years ago when I saw a red fire truck in front of my house on Elmwood. We become quick friends and went to many rail fairs and swap meets together. I've never known anyone as generous as Chris and he made sure that I had a chance to read every new book and see every new photo/film he had acquired. If I know Chris he's somewhere riding in a North Shore Electroliner munching on an Electroburger! I will miss you buddy.

dear susan:
condolences to you and the burritt family fran and I were saden to hear about chris(kit)my long time frind from sofmore year at OPRF and many more chris and Tom Best took the great pictures of my wedding he will always be rembered by Fran and myself.

REMEMBER THE MAINE as Chris would say

I want to express my condolences to The Burritt family. I knew Chris since we were kids and he was called "Kit". I lived down the street from the Burrit's and spent most of my time at their house. We did just about everything together, from shoveling snow, high school photo staff, trains, you name it. As Chuck Zeiler mentioned, Chris was full of fun and ideas and we all participated. I felt like a part of the family and was always treated as such. I will always remember the great times that we had together.

Most folks know Chris for his film work, but he also held a job on the CB&Q railroad in the summer of 1966. I tagged along as Chris worked at Galva, Barstow, and Moline, Illinois as a relief telegraph operator, substituting for the regular operators as they took their vacation time off. We would sit in the station at Galva, Chris would be in communication with the train dispatcher, and would write train orders and hand them up to passing trains using a hoop. The trains didn’t stop, and it was Chris’s duty to stand close to the tracks and hold the hoop in such a fashion that a crew member could reach out of the passing train and grab the orders. This would happen twice per train, the locomotive crew and the conductor behind would both need to grab orders, so Chris had to throw the first hoop aside after the orders were picked up and get the second hoop into position. This produced a lot of excitement in a short period of time, usually followed by a few hours of utter boredom as nothing happened until the next train passed.

One of the interesting things we did to pass the time was to make wagers as to when the next milk can would explode. Local farmers would bring their milk to the station in Galva in those large cans that are now collectable antiques. If the farmer was late and missed the train, the cans would sit out in the sun most of the day. On a really hot day, the top would blow off the can from the pressure of heated milk, and the station and platform would be covered in some of the foulest smelling substance we ever experienced. It certainly wasn’t milk when it erupted from the can. Just to survive, we hosed the mess down with water.

Here’s an admittedly poor photo of Chris, cut from a much larger photo, at Barstow, Illinois, on August 28, 1966, performing one of his duties on the railroad, inspecting a train as it rolls by.

Dear Sue,
My heart is heavy for you, and for all who knew and loved Chris. I know how much he meant to my daughter... as her teacher, mentor, friend, and more. He went way "above and beyond" in supporting and encouraging her and her crews in making a documentary film that started because of a conversation she had with him---she mentioned something she was passionate about, and his immediate, enthusiastic response launched the project. Two and a half years after graduation, Becky still says that Chris was her best source of advice and encouragement for that film... and for anything else she wanted to discuss with him. She often called him "Dad," and I know he earned that honor. What a gift he was to her, and to so many others whose lives he touched. I will always be grateful to him for that.

Please accept our deepest sympathies.

I met Chris when we were both in high school. I attended Columbia College with Chris from 1966 to 1970. In fact, during the first year, I lived at the Burritt’s house and was treated just like another member of the family.

In August 1965, Chris, myself, and a mutual friend, Jerry Appleman, took a trip to Colorado to photograph steam trains. It turned into an adventure as we started up the Rocky Mountains. About half way up we came across road construction, and a stray rock punched a hole in the car’s oil pan. The highway crew chained us to their road grader and towed us up to the summit at Cumbres. Chris and I got out and started pushing the car. It soon gained enough momentum and started down the mountain, powered only by gravity. Since it was a station wagon, we both jumped on the tailgate and held as Jerry steered. The car whipped through hairpin curves with both of us nearly tossed off. Jerry refused to use the brake. When we hit a level stretch in the road, Chris and I would jump off and push again. This went on for about 17 miles until we drifted into Chama, New Mexico. We pushed the car to the hotel, and stayed the night in the only hotel I ever stayed in with a single bathroom for all the guests. In the morning, Chris and I crawled under the car to remove the punctured oil pan. There was no possibility of getting a replacement part, so we took it over to the railroad shops, and they welded the hole shut, for free! Remarkably, we got the car put back together; it ran fine and got us back to Oak Park by way of Laramie, Wyoming. Along the way, Chris and Jerry hopped a freight train, and I posted a picture at this link:

http://www.railroadforums.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/52068/ppuser/4207

Dear Susan,

Larry and I were so saddened to hear about Chris. Our hearts go out to you.

This week Larry and I recalled a very fond memory of Chris which exemplified his genuine kindness. One winter a number of years ago, our side of the block was without electricity (and heat) for about 2 days during a stretch of particularly cold days. Soon after we lost electrical power, Chris called us to ask if we wanted to come to your home with our children (who were quite young at the time) so that we could stay warm. We were so touched by this kind gesture, especially because we had just come to know you and Chris as neighbors. His act of kindness stayed with us. Even though neither Larry or I had talked about Chris' call since it happened years ago, we each remembered it in the past few days. I think that speaks to the impact his kindness had on us.
We will miss watching Chris with his snow blower, hearing him bring in the New Year, seeing him wear his chef's jacket at the summer block parties, and listening to tales from the Titanic.

We are certain that he made the transition from your loving arms, Susan, to those of a higher power.

fondly,
Karen Kavanaugh and Larry Brozek

Chris,

You were a great instructor, mentor and friend. The time spent assisting you in class was time well spent and memorable. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work by your side and the knowledge you shared. God speed, you will be missed.

Matt Driscoll
Fletcher Chicago
(Columbia College, class of 00')

Dear Susan and Family,
I will really miss Chris. The news of his loss is a real shock. He was kind, compassionate, committed and fun. I enjoyed the opportunity to speak about advertising to his Columbia class over the past seven years. We had great times in those sessions.
While we are unable to attend services,Norvelle joins me in your grief and will keep you in our prayers. Keep the Faith.

Ron and Norvelle Sampson

Dear Susan and Burritt family, be sure of our prayers for all of you from the Sinsinawa Dominicans who knew Chris(at St. Giles and thru his dear Mom). We are confident that he is rejoicing with his Mom and all the family who are in heaven to greet him. Thank you for letting us know about his death. It must be a great shock to all of you. God bless you and give you the strength needed at this difficult time. Love and prayers, Sister Susanne McDonald
Sisters Miguel and Marie Corneila extend their sympathy to all of you also.

Dear Chris, ole buddy,

You were the best of neighbors and snow shoveling partners. You cleared all our walks with that monster snow blower of yours. The kids going to Emerson School sure must have appreciated that 100 yards of cleared sidewalk. And our kids might as well have been your kids. Do you remember when our Jackson, then aged 7, bolted from the summer camp program in River Forest? He was running home. But he had to pass your house on the way. You were standing on the porch with an Oak Park police woman waiting for him. You knew he was coming, because we gave all our kids' schools and camps your number to call in case they couldn't reach us. Tomorrow, Molly will serve at your funeral and Jackson will help carry you out of St. Edmund's for the last time. Good bye, our good friend.

Kim and Terry

Chris will be missed. The memory of him will be with me always.

Chris, ole buddy,

You were the best neighbor and snow shoveling partner. You had the sunny side of Randolph Street, but you always used that monster snow blower of yours on our shady side. Those kids walking to Emerson School must have loved us in February. But then you were always doing things for others, especially our kids. They may as well have been your kids. You remember when our Jackson, then 7 years old, skipped out on summer camp in River Forest. He ran home, but he had to pass your house on the way, where you were waiting for him on your porch with an Oak Park police woman. You knew he was coming, because yours was the "in-case-of-emergency" phone number we gave to everyone and the camp had reported him missing. Well, Saturday morning will be Jackson's time to return the favor, and he will help carry you out of St. Edmunds for the last time. Good bye, our good friend.

Dear Sue,
My deepest condolences go out to you and to the rest of the family. All of us who knew Chris also feel a keen sense of loss in his passing. He was kind hearted and giving--rare qualities in our world. I have the fondest memories of him and of you--Indy 500, having your support when my dad died, Columbia memories and more. Thank you for all of these moments. God's peace be with you.
Ginny

It is so sad not to have Chris in our lives. We met at the Yacht Club many years ago and he became our favorite "slug". We shared many beautiful times together. He will be missed.

To the Burritt family, I am so
sad for your loss. Chris and were
not only classmates at Columbia,
but we were also student workers
in the film department during our
senior year. Chris was always a
delight to work with, be with, and
one could always count on his wit
and sly sense of humor. Those were
wonderfuls days. I will keep you in
my prayers.

Laura Morgan Day

I am so sorry to hear about Chris and will call Tim and Mike Hayes. We lived on the same block and my sons went to school with Chris and Tim was a good friend. He will want me to express our sorrow.

To the Burritt family, I am very sorry for your loss. Chris was a classmate and old friend of mine at Columbia College in the 1960s. Chris was a very talented man and he will be missed. My deepest condolences are with you.

Dear Susan,

We were so sorry to hear about Chris' passing. We have such fond memories of Chris from the yacht club. You both were so kind to us when we joined the club and made us feel so welcomed. Our memories of the "Pullman nights" will always be
with a smile.
Chris was and kind and gentle person. Our deepest sympathies to you. We will keep you and Chris in our prayers.

Dick & Dorcas Palmby