Carolyn Orchard Ruscoe Burt

Carolyn Orchard Ruscoe Burt, aka “Rusty”, 91. Rusty leaves behind three sons, David, 63, Peter, 62 and Jeffrey, 55 as well as seven healthy and lovely Burt granddaughters - Justine, Bridget, Tess, Hattie, Sophie, Chloe and Phoebe. Rusty, was a born and bred native of Darien, CT, educated in the Darien School system and graduated from Skidmore College, Class of 1955. Her childhood home was the Bell Mansion overlooking Gorhams Pond. Through her later years, other places she was proud to call home included Fairfield, CT, Sarasota, FL and finally settling in Madison, CT.

Rusty met and married Victor F. Burt in the late 50’s in San Francisco, his home town. They both soon decided to return to her home in Darien to raise a family. Rusty was a long time swim instructor at the Darien YMCA and instilled that love of swimming into her sons. Her love of the outdoors included tennis and paddle tennis, whitewater canoeing trips on the Farmington River, sailing trips out of Stamford Yacht Club and hiking. Rusty and Vic hosted many a party over the years in their house overlooking Gorhams Pond. In the 70’s, Rusty was a member of the Junior League of Norwalk, and could be found painting background scenes for the local theater in the cavernous Lockwood-Mathews Mansion.

The family were long time members of Middlesex Swim & Tennis Club in Darien, and in her later years, Rusty was a member of Wimbledon Tennis Group for Singles in Stamford, CT.

Rusty was baptized and confirmed as St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. She sang in the choir, was a Sunday school teacher and work tirelessly for Person-to-Person non-profit. She co-started a women’s group at St. Lukes for divorced and single women with Reverend Anne Kimball.

Rusty spent most summers of her youth at her favorite place in the world, the all-girls Camp Arcadia, ME, playing tennis, swimming, enjoying campfires, and dreaming about the boys camp across the lake. She eventually went on to wear many hats there including a tennis instructor, youth ambassador, and eventually grandmother of Burt campers. She made many friends on the shores of Pleasant Lake.

It would please Rusty greatly if, in lieu of flowers, a donation be considered to Camp Arcadia, PO Box 158, Casco, ME.