Jeffrey David Burns has passed away on September 21, 2026

Jeffrey David Burns was born on Christmas Day by the ocean in Milford, Connecticut. Born to Bernard J. Burns and Kathryn Mary Eustace Burns, Jeff was the youngest of five children. Jeff’s childhood by the water cultivated a deep love of the sea that persisted throughout his life.

Jeff attended John Hopkins high school, going initially to the University of Richmond, then transferring in the fall of 1978 to Davidson College.Jeff was recruited by Davidson after catching Davidson’s attention during a spring game as quarterback with University of Richmond by completing 8 of 13 passes for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns against the number one defensive unit. His athletic performance made newspaper headlines. During Jeff’s time at Davidson, his artistic abilities caught the eye of his professors, and Jeff’s beautiful oil paintings are treasured to this day by his family.Of Jeff’s most memorable experiences in college were those in the company of his lifelong college friends and his canine companion, Bo.

Jeff graduated with a degree in economics in 1981. Feeling called by his adventurous spirit, he embarked on a formative six-month solo bicycle tour of Ireland, Europe and the Middle East.He lived and worked on a Kibbutz in Israel, concluding his travels in Egypt and sailing the Nile River. Jeff’s travels left an indelible mark on him, and cultivated both a lasting impression of the profound and nuanced beauty of the world, and a deep love for people that would guide him throughout his lifespan.

Returning home in 1982, he began a career that would grow into global risk management, working as he said “with people to resolve challenging situations before they became more challenging.” He was considered by others in the industry to be a construction expert with product development expertise and design of risk solutions for large-scale civil projects around the globe.He excelled due to his love of people and visionary outlook.

Jeff, above all else, cherished every moment of time with his family. Jeff had three beloved children during his first marriage and married his wife, Jamie in 2019. They shared loving, deeply cherished years together. Jeff trusted God’s love and never wavered in both his Catholic faith and deep love for family.

Throughout his life, Jeff’s adventurous spirit made him most at home climbing mountains or sailing into the wilderness of the sea. He maintained a love of all watercraft, some of which were barely seaworthy. His final home was in Evergreen, Colorado, with his wife Jamie, surrounded by the mountains he so deeply loved.

Jeff is survived by his loving wife, Jamie, daughter Jennifer Caitlin Markey and son-in-law Craig Phillip Markey, son Jeffrey B. Burns and daughter- in-law Katherine Renee Burns, and daughter Katherine Hally Burns. Jeff is survived by his well-loved grandchildren Jack Alden Markey, Owen Oliver Markey, and Eleanor Emerson Markey. Jeff precedes in death his beloved siblings, sister Kathleen Halperin, brother Bernard Burns, and brother Chris Burns. He joins his beloved brother Joe Burns in eternal rest. Jeff’s family and friends grieve deeply the passing of Jeff’s brilliant life and light, and he is remembered by the laughter, joy, hope and love he gave to so many in his lifetime.