James H Burdick

James H. Burdick, age 95, of Audubon PA and formerly of Strafford, PA died Aug. 22, 2015. Jim was born in Bryn Mawr, PA and was married to his wife Adell (1953) until her passing in Oct. 2004. Jim earned his living in the financial services business starting as an office boy out of high school. He became successively a life insurance agent, manager of agencies, then Marketing Vice President for the Philadelphia Life Insurance Company. With two partners, they started a life insurance agency, brokerage firm, and a mutual fund management company (Pro Services). These companies specialized in retirement planning for physicians and attorneys. After the sale of Pro, Jim returned to Philadelphia Life as a Regional Manager for sales in Philadelphia. He retired in 1980 and had been heard to say “I haven’t missed work for 1 hour since I retired”.

The reason being, he became very involved in community volunteerism. For over 13 years, he repaired homes for the less fortunate in South Philadelphia with Community Home Repairs (18th Street Development Corp.). He was successively a Deacon, Elder and Trustee, President of the trustees of the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church (BMPC). He twice chaired the church annual stewardship drive, for 8 years served as chairman of the BMPC Foundation, served over 60 years an usher, and 12 years on the Personnel Committee. For years he was active in the Boy Scouts of America, and the Upper Main Line YMCA where he was board member. He also served on the board of Community Health Affiliates Foundation, and served as the co-chair of the Chester County Individual Gifts division of the United Way.

Jim is an alumnus of the Haverford School where he spent untold hours of service both as a foot soldier, and then President of the Alumni Association. He also served as a Board member of the Association for 6 years. Second to his family and children, Jim’s church BMPC and the Haverford School, were his labors of love.

Jim is survived by his 5 children, Susan B. Coughlin of Lake Harmony, PA; Linda B. Robinson of Sterling, VA; James H. Burdick Jr. of Annapolis, MD; David O. Burdick of Glenmoore, PA; and Patricia B. Roshelli of Collegeville, PA. He is also survived by his 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild and the loving memory of Matthew Hnatin, his first born grandchild. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, August 28 at 11:00 AM at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church on Montgomery Ave. in Bryn Mawr, PA. Interment will be private and held before the Memorial Service at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens, King of Prussia. Memorial contributions may be made to Running Strong for American Indian Youth 8301 Richmond Highway, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22309, IndianYouth.org or to the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Foundation-Eugene Bay Fund, 625 Montgomery Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.