Beloved husband of Glen (nee Allen). Dear father and father- in- law of Julie (Derek Drekic), Stephen (Aaron Pollard), Jon Arno (Amy Freedman). Loving, adoring grandfather of Saul Leah, Samuel James, Asher Burhans, Joseph Harry. Jim’s death marks the end of a family of nine siblings of which he was the second youngest. Predeceased by Birdsall, Townsend, Adrian, Langdon, Holland, Jean, Cornie and Ivan. He will be missed by his many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and extended family and friends.
Jim was born on September 12, 1926, in Albany, New York, the son of Ella Vesta Burhans and Palmer Cornelius Lawson. He came from a Hudson Valley Dutch family going back over 400 years in New York State with other roots in the Palatine Germans, Mayflower English and Mohican Native Americans. The family were long time Quakers, but Jim and younger brother Ivan attended the Methodist Episcopal Church in Albany for want of a proper Meeting House. He became an Episcopalian in his twenties. He has been a participant in the Anglican Communion throughout his adulthood serving as warden at St. Luke’s Parish, Hamilton. At the time of his death, he was a member of Christ’s Church Cathedral. His life was guided by his faith, grounded less in concerns about doctrine than in the practice of what he understood as its fundamental teachings: hospitality, generosity, openness, sharing, peacefulness, forgiveness, the love of the other, whoever the other might be. He was a fine storyteller with a generous eye for the humor, sadness and surprise in stories from his own life and in the lives of those he met. His great love was music. He had learned to play the guitar. He read widely, loved good movies, good food, and good company.
Jim attended primary and secondary school in Albany, New York, joining the American Army in 1944 at the age of 17, after completing high school. He was in the 393rd regiment, 99th Division in active service in Europe from late winter until the end of the war in May 1945. He was then in the Army of Occupation mainly in Austria until he returned home for discharge in August, 1946. He completed his bachelor’s degree and teaching studies at the State University of New York, Albany, graduating in 1950. He then went to Germany where he studied at the Universities of Heidelberg and Tubingen from 1950 to 1953 returning for post graduate studies at Johns Hopkins, Maryland. In 1955 he joined the German Department at McMaster University where he taught language and literature for the next 36 years, retiring in 1991. He was a much- loved teacher who appreciated his students and was appreciated by them. His classes were marked by much discussion, the careful perusal of the text, lots of written comments on work done, singing German folksongs, laughter and kindness. Over the years he translated poems, stories and books, some along with his good friend, former student and colleague, Gerald Chapple.
Over the years Jim suffered many health problems, beginning in childhood with severe blinding migraines headaches. He had bypass heart surgery in 1981 and 2003, a heart attack in the mid-nineties and 2 strokes, 2001 and 2018 this last causing him to lose his vision in the left visual field. He ruptured the quads on both legs at 2 different times developing an infection on the last occasion. This resulted in 3 months in hospital, surgeries, almost a full year of antibiotics with a constant threat of amputation. Finally, his kneecap was removed, and his leg saved but he could only walk now with a walker. He was a diabetic. Over these last 4 and half years he required daily nursing having developed serious ulcers on both lower legs. Through all the years of ill health his fortitude, resiliency, generosity, good humor and lack of complaint, sustained those around him.
We are grateful to all those who cared for Jim, treated sustained, and supported him and us through all years, but particularly in these last months: Dr. Zoe Del Bel Belluz, Dr. Alison Montgomery. Your care and kindness will not be forgotten, nor will the care and kindnesses of our nurses from St. Joseph’s particularly Vida, Maureen, Denise, Megan and Cathy. And you Michelle wherever you are. Thanks to Damien, Magda, Natalie, to the staff at Whitney Pharmacy and to the Clergy at Christs Church: Peter, Sharynn, Tim, Ralph and to the Cathedral community. Thanks to our neighbors especially Lorraine, Greta, Corey, but all of you, for your offers and gestures of help.
And, of course, thanks to all our friends old and new. It makes such a difference to have such friends. You know who you are.
And thank you grandson, Sam. You accompanied us through this last hard year living in this house, doing your studies and your work. You took care of your grandpa and lifted him up in every way. Blessings.
Jim was cremated. His funeral will be held on Friday, October 15th at 11am at Christ’s Church Cathedral. If you wish to remember Jim through a charitable donation, please donate to a charity of your choice, or to a charity of particular importance to Jim. He would be honored by donations to St. Mathews House in Hamilton but also to any charity that cares for those who are victims of war, particularly children, for refugees, for the homeless, mentally ill or handicapped, for those who suffer discrimination because of race, creed or gender.
He was much loved; he will be much missed.
Eternal Rest grant unto him, light perpetual shine upon him.
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