Karen M Burns

1952 - 2013

Karen Mary Burns, 60, of Sarasota, passed away April 11, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

She was born to the late John and Helen Burns, December 26, 1952, in Paterson, New Jersey. Karen graduated from high school there and went on to earn a B.S. degree in Biology/Chemistry from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida in 1974. She loved the tropical climate of that area very much, and chose to remain in southern Florida for the rest of her life. She moved from Coral Gables to Tampa and received a master’s degree in Zoology from the University of South Florida in 1981 and later earned her Ph.D. there, in 2009.

Karen was a highly respected marine biologist, working at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota for 25 years until 2008, including her time as Manager of the Fish Biology Program. She specialized in ichthyoplankton identification (the eggs and larvae of fish) and coastal pelagic and reef fish studies. She was well published and served on a number of national and international committees. Her studies took her to Mexico quite frequently to work with biologists on movement and migration studies of coastal fishes. She later worked for a few years at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council in Tampa as a Fisheries Ecosystem Management Specialist.

Karen was an active parishioner and cantor for many years at The Church of the Incarnation, and more recently attended Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church. She enjoyed leading singing for the worship of God with her gift of singing and exceptional vocal range.

She surrounded herself with several “dear friends”, in her words, including some who have loved and enjoyed her friendship for several decades. She always took pleasure in conversation with her friends, and was always helpful. She was raised as an only child and was happy in being self-sufficient and not a burden to others. She was never without her cats for companionship, and enjoyed many other beautiful things, especially including her orchids.

Karen always remained closely connected to her immediate family in New Jersey, giving them as frequent visits as possible and a huge amount of her energy, time, attention and support. She is survived by her aunt, Pauline Atamanic of North Haledon, New Jersey.

Flowers may be sent to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, 833 Magellan Drive, where there will be a funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 27