on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 with his beloved wife, Karen Ryugo, his faithful
Goldendoodle, Molly, his sister JoAnn van Lunteren, and her husband Erik at his side.
Jim, born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 13, 1957 to Joseph and Anna Burnosky (both
deceased), died after a 2+ years fight with cancer, having been treated at both Mount
Sinai Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and receiving the very best
care one could ever hope for.
Jim graduated from St. Ignatius High School (1975), then graduated from Case
Western Reserve University (CWRU) (1979) with a double-major in Economics and
Political Science. He received honors in both departments. Later, Jim earned his
Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at the Weatherhead School of Management
of CWRU.
Jim dedicated his professional life to working with anti-poverty programs, including
those aimed at providing affordable healthcare to all. After briefly working in the
governor’s office in Springfield, IL, Jim returned to Ohio and began working for the
Ohio Department of Human Services (ODHS) as Deputy Director in Management
Information Services. In 1991, Jim moved back to his home town and began work as
the Assistant Director of the Department of Public Health for the City of Cleveland
eventually being promoted to Director. A few years later, Jim was recruited to
Medimetrix Consulting, a national healthcare consulting firm. As a Senior Consultant,
he provided strategic consulting services to health systems, insurers, state
governments, private philanthropic foundations, and investment firms, such as the
Connecticut-based private equity fund where he met his wife. In 1998, Jim moved to
New York City and married the love of his life. While living in New York City, he began
working as a Vice President of Strategic Planning for FidelisCare New York-his client at
Medimetrix. FidelisCare New York is a company that is devoted to providing
affordable healthcare to all New Yorkers.
Jim loved living in New York City. His wife told him that what he would love most is not
having to mow a lawn and taking a cab (more likely the subway) home after going
out… Jim took the subway to work every morning; he loved taking the subway,
listening to music in the station, and watching people. Early on weekend mornings, he
went to Central Park with his dogs. Molly particularly loved catching a frisbee and
chasing a ball. Later, Jim and Karen would pick a place or a restaurant to go to-he
loved exploring the “urban jungle,” and most weekends they’d go to the Farmer’s
Market for fresh produce. When he worked in midtown, he became a member of the
Museum of Modern Art so that he could go there during his lunch hour. Later he and
his wife became members of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is just “around
the corner” from their apartment. In the evenings, bookending a nice dinner, Jim
enjoyed a glass of red wine and a shot (or two) of single malt Scotch, while listening to
jazz (or watching ESPN). And, a day was never complete unless he had read the New
York Times and done the crossword puzzle.
Jim is survived by his ever-loving wife, Karen, his faithful dog, Molly (who attended
church as regularly as did Karen and Jim), his beloved sister JoAnn van Lunteren (Erik),
and her children, Jennifer van Lunteren-Wood (Joshua) and Gregory van Lunteren
(Alina Dunbar).
A funeral service will take place at The Church of the Holy Trinity (316 E. 88th Street,
New York City) on January 13th at 3pm. The service may be viewed remotely; details
will be available at www.holytrinity-nyc.org. (In keeping with nouveau COVID-19
fashion, casual and comfortable attire is de rigueur!) If you are able to attend Jim’s
funeral on the 13th, you’ll find small bottles of single-malt Scotch with which to toast
Jim at your leisure.
In lieu of flowers, we request that you make a donation to the Church of the Holy Trinity
or any charity meaningful to you.
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