PORTLAND – Kenneth Wayne Burrill, 62, of Freeport died Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005, at a Portland hospital. He was born in Providence, R.I. Oct. 4, 1942, and the son of George S. Burrill and Vera (Armstrong) Burrill. Ken attended St. Andrews School, Rhode Island and graduated from Bassoon College in 1964. For all his professional life, Ken worked in the construction industry acting as vice president of marketing at H.E. Sargent, Inc., president of Yankee Construction of Portland, president of Bridgecorp in Augusta and later acting as a consultant. His involvement in professional organizations was tireless, including the Maine Better Transportation Association, Associated Contractors of Maine and Associated General Contractors of America and many others. Ken was recipient of the Major Achievement in Construction award. Ken was also a deeply committed political fundraiser, leading campaign financial efforts for Senator Susan Collins, Senator Olympia Snow and many others. His effusive enthusiasm, humor and intelligence made a potent combination for fundraising. In fact, the Maine GOP may need to get resourceful for upcoming elections without Ken to rely upon. When not working, which was rare, Ken loved working in his yard, making furniture, cross-country skiing and playing horseshoes with his friends and family. He and his wife, Catherine, greatly enjoyed spending time in China with Catherine’s family. Together, they purchased an apartment in Shanghai, where they would retire and Ken planned to teach English as a second language. Ken will be remembered as an intelligent, honest and conscientious man who had a great love of humor and friends. Even during his difficult battle with cancer, Ken always had time to joke and used his sense of humor to put his friends and family at ease. He was a great public speaker with a never-ending sense of humor that made him a natural as a fundraiser. Ken had a voracious appetite for reading – especially political intrigue and science fiction. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Liu Burrill of Freeport; his son, Scott Burrill and his wife, Constance Burrill, of Portland; his son, Jason Burrill of Bethel; his son, Christopher Burrill of Sidney; his daughter, Nicole Riedel and her husband, Adam Riedel, of Tacoma, Wash.; his sister, Patricia August of Warwick, R.I.; his sister, Kathleen Marquette of North Platte, Neb.; and his mother, Vera Burrill of Warwick, R.I. There will be a celebration of his life 3-5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, with a memorial service beginning at 5 p.m. at Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. Burial will be noon Saturday, Sept. 10, at Riverside Cemetery in Yarmouth. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Ken’s memory to St. Andrew’s School, 63 Federal Rd., Barrington, R.I. 02806 or online at http://www.standrews-ri.org/
KENNETH WAYNE BURRILL
