Howard Marsh Burns

Howard Marsh Burns of Church Hill, MD, died at the Chester River Hospital Center, Chestertown, MD, on Thursday, June 27, 2013. He was 79. Born August 8, 1933, in Boston, MA, he was the son of the late Howard Fletcher and Elna Anderson Burns of Cleveland, OH. He attended Hawken School in Cleveland, Riverdale in NY, and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. A multi- talented artist, he extended his artistic education at the Konsfackskolan in Stockholm, Sweden. He served in the United States Army from 1960-1962. His career as a commercial artist in New York City was varied, as he was skilled in a range of media. He illustrated scientific textbooks for Harcourt Brace, designed jackets and books for McMillan Publishers, and designed annual reports for Williams Illustrating, to name a few. As well as his own paintings and etchings, of particular interest locally are the books he illustrated about Maryland: Ghosts and Haunted Houses of Maryland, The Boy Who Saved the Town, and Captain Tugalong. Howard and his wife Janice, began the Eastern Shore Tea Company in 1984, specializing in unique blends of premium teas. Their first tea was Chestertown Tea, in honor of the town’s annual Tea Party. The Tea Company was operated by the Burns until 1999, when it was purchased by Baltimore Coffee and Tea. During that time, Howard created over 60 tea labels, as well as many private labels for museums, department stores, and other organizations. A member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Church Hill, Howard had also served on the church vestry in the past years, had been a member of the Lion’s Club for several years, and was recently honored for his role in starting Friends for Church Hill Preservation, an organization that had saved Church Hill Theatre from demolition in 1984. Mr. Burns is survived by his wife of 50 years, Janice Burns; daughter, Cynthia Guertin; son-in-law, Kevin Guertin; and brother, Allen Burns of Franktown, CO. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. on Friday, July 5, 2013, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Church Hill, MD, where internment will immediately follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends in the Church Hall following the internment. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the organization of your choice.

Howard Marsh Burns

August 8, 1933 - June 27, 2013