Lori Dale Burns, 78, of Vero Beach, passed away on June 30, 2014.
She is survived by her children, Dana R. Burns (Patricia Marcoux), Randall Burns Baker (Arthur), and Carol Burns Crawford; granddaughters, Lauren C. Burns, Amy Baker Burke (Chris), Emilie Marcoux; great-grandson, Paxton C. Burke; and her best friend, Christine Glover.
Her husband of 24 years, Samuel A. Burns II, predeceased her in 1991.
Burns was born in Elizabeth, N.J., the daughter of the late William and Dorothy Kneirim.
She had a modeling career in New York at an early age and graduated from NYU with a degree in Liberal Arts. A career in music and entertainment led her to Miami where she was selected to appear in the open scenes of the James Bond film ‘Goldfinger’.
A move to Vero Beach provided an opportunity in broadcasting with fledgling CBS affiliate WTVX, where weather reporting (a loyal Dodgers fan, she always signed off with the weather from Chavez Ravine), public relations, program directing, hosting an on- air local interest talk show, and founding a program of ‘Television in Education’were among her achievements.
Her marriage to Sam and their interest in the arts led them to friendships with like-minded community members with whom they became founding members of the Committee for The Center for the Arts.
Burns worked tirelessly promoting the now-Vero Beach Museum of Art, and with her passion for education and the arts, was a founder and chair for many Children’s Art Festivals, where thousands of the community’s children had their first hands-on meeting with a paintbrush or lump of clay.
She became the first public relations director of the Center for the Arts when it opened its doors. Burns was the first Director of Tourism for Indian River County retiring from the position with the Chamber of Commerce after 15 years promoting the unique natural attractions and cultural opportunities of the environment she loved.
She served on the board of The United Way, volunteered for countless organizations in the community and supported the Cultural Council of Indian River County, serving on its ‘Art In Public Places’ Committee.
She was honored with the Carolyn K. Eggert Award for Extraordinary Service to the arts in 2007. In her retirement she continued as a volunteer at the Vero Beach Museum.
She loved and cherished her children and grandchildren, her friends, her pets and her community. She surrounded herself with art and nature and gave unsparingly when she was needed. In her life, she made the world a better, more beautiful place. Rather than flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Vero Beach Museum of Art, Lori Burns Memorial Fund, for the purchase of art in her name for the permanent collection of the Museum.
A memorial celebration of her life will be held at the Vero Beach Museum of Art on Aug. 2, from 4:30-6 p.m.
