by Tom Miller
BVA was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Bryan K. Burnett on February 6.
Bryan was a longtime, dedicated Life Member of BVA. He joined the Association in 1976 and soon after became active in the Maryland-DC-Virginia (now Mid-Atlantic) Regional Group. He served as president of the group during an especially turbulent time and was successful in bringing a fractured organization back together.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Bryan served in the U.S. Army during 1941-44. He was discharged due to loss of vision, after which he moved to Washington, DC, to work for Harry Diamond Laboratories. He was instrumental in the development of the electronic bomb fuse at Harry Diamond.
Bryan also worked part-time at night as a financial planner during his tenure at Harry Diamond. In 1962, he retired from Harry Diamond and determined to make financial planning his new full-time career. He then worked in the field until his retirement in 1985.
The contributions for which Bryan will perhaps be best remembered and most sorely missed are his role on the BVA Life Membership Board of Trustees and his management of the Life Membership Portfolio, the latter of which made great strides under his direction. He brought his financial planning experience and expertise to both of these vitally important duties.
Appointed to the Life Membership Board in 1982, he served as Chairman until the time of his death. Under his direction, the fund has prospered for the benefit of all regional groups. Life membership dues are placed into the Life Membership Portfolio, from which funds are invested in equities that generate high interest and dividends. The interest and dividends are then apportioned back to the regional groups on an annual basis. For most groups, this is their sole source of operating revenue. This past year, the Life Membership Fund apportioned $91,000, which was some $30,000 more than ever before and reflects how effectively Bryan handled BVA’s investments.
Bryan is survived by his wife, Catherine, whom he married in 1955. Catherine has also been actively involved in BVA activities, which included service as the BVA Auxiliary reporter and the designer of the BVAA emblem. Literally thousands of us have been the beneficiaries of Bryan’s unique and innumerable contributions, for which we will be forever grateful.
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