Virginia Burleson

Virginia Ann Burleson was born on March 27,1933 in Enosburg Falls, Vermont. She was the child of Ruby Florence (Hull) and Cecil Carlton Burleson. Her parents owned a farm in the town of Berkshire, Vermont prior to moving to Montpelier, Vermont. Ginny graduated in 1951 from Montpelier High School. Her friends from high school, The Gang, remained friends throughout their lives, staying connected and gathering regularly. She continued her studies at Green Mountain College earning an associate's degree in 1953, graduated in 1954 from the School of Medical Technology in Boston Massachusetts and obtained her bachelor's degree in 1963 from Northeastern University in Boston, while working full-time.

Friendships and connections were most important to Ginny. She had many old friends, new old friends, and new friends. She was responsible for introducing and developing bonds and relationships between many wonderful people. Ginny shared activities, companionship, emotional support, with truth, honesty and caring. She valued the important aspects of friendship. She had the gift to make connections simply by needing to gather personal information and stories from all whom she connected with. Her recall was unparallelled to her very last day. She could share valuable information, stories, acknowledge birthdays, accomplishments, and genuinely took an interest in anyone who was fortunate enough to have gotten to know and spend time in her presence.

Ginny began her career at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital as a medical technologist. She then worked at the VA Medical Center in West Roxbury, Massachusetts from 1958-1978 when she became a Technical Manager with Instrumentation Laboratory in Lexington, Ma until 1988.

Virginia was proud of her accomplishments and associations including being a founding member of the National Society for Cardiopulmonary Technology, Inc, holding various offices at the state and national level. She received the Postlethwaite Award for her work with NSPT. While working in Research at the VA Hospital, she was recognized for 30 published papers as Author, co-author and for special acknowledgement. She represented Instrumentaiton Laboratories from the Unites States to the China International Medical Exhibition conference in 1983. It was the first time an exhibit had been opened to the USA while President Nixon was in office.

Ginny retired in 1988 and moved to Shelburne, Vermont and worked part-time positions and most notably at the Shelburne Museum. She volunteered at the UVM Medical Center for 15 years, was a member and officer of the Hospital Auxiliary, a Member of the Altrusa Internation: a volunteer service group.

She had a Family Camp at Lake Carmi, for over 50 years. Family, friends, and her cats would gather, and spend leisure time at the lake.

Virginia A. Burleson has requested no services. Ginny was very enthusiastic about the donation of resources and time. Donations can be made in her honor to a favorite charity or donate your valuable time to your community or organization.

A poem Ginny wanted to leave everyone with:

NO VERMONTERS IN HEAVEN

I dreamed that I went to the city of gold,

To Heaven resplendent and fair; 

And, after I entered that beautiful fold, 

By one in authority there I was told, 

That not a Vermonter was there!

“Impossible,” said I.

 “A host from my town have sought this delectable place, 

And each must be here with a harp and a crown, 

A conquerors palm and clean linen gown 

Received through merited grace.

”The angel replied, “All Vermonters come here 

When first they depart from the earth,

But after a day or a month or a year 

They become restless and lonesome and homesick appear

And sigh for the land of their birth.”

“They tell of it’s many and beautiful hills,

 Where forest majestic appear; 

It’s rivers and lakes and it’s streams and it’s hills 

Where nature the purest of water distills,

And they soon get dissatisfied here.”

“They tell of ravines, wild, secluded and deep, 

Of clover decked landscapes serene, 

Of towering mountains, imposing and steep, 

A-down which the torrents exulting leap

Through forests perennially green.”

“We give them the best that the kingdom provides,

They have everything here that they want; 

But not a Vermonter in Heaven abides,

A very short time period here he resides,

Then hikes his way back to Vermont!” 

-Dr. Ernest Johnstone, 1867 - 1938