Tom Burrows (1939-2015)
September 1, 2015 in 2-year, Alumni
Tom Burrows, 75, passed away on August 15th at his home in Jensen Beach surrounded by loved ones and his pets.
He was born in Canton, IL. He is the second son of Vivian and Ivan Burrows. He is survived by his Uncle Jim Greenwell of Quincey, Illinois, his brother Bud and his wife Sue of Stuart, his wife Susan of 20 years, his two sons Scott of Stuart, Mark and his wife Dawn of Palm City, his daughter Heidi Shea and her husband Eric of Stuart, and three stepchildren, Nancy Jesse and her husband Chris of Winter Haven, Patty Palumbo and her husband Lenny of Sanford, Bob Totalis and his wife Jessie of Jensen Beach, and ten grandchildren Samantha, Krista, Meghan, Daniel, Christopher, Amber, Wiley, Bodie, Corinne, and Nickolas.
Tom was a certified Agronomist/Irrigation/Water/ Turfgrass Specialist. From 1988-2009 he serviced over 200 golf courses annually in Florida, the Midwest, and Southeast Asia. He was a Penn State graduate.
His career in the golf industry included 14 years (1974-1988 as the Golf Course Superintendent at Turtle Creek Country Club, the Director of Properties at Mariners Sands Country Club from 1972-1974, Director of Properties at Playboy Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and Great Gorge, New Jersey from 1967-1972, and Golf Course Superintendent from 1961-1967 at Glencoe Golf Club in Glencoe, Illinois.
He was involved in numerous organizations. For 9 years he was on the Board of Directors for Brookside Laboratories serving as Vice Chairman and Recipient of their “Hall of Fame” award in 2006.
He was the Co-founder of the Penn State Turfgrass Alumni Association and was the second President. He also served on the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation Board of Directors for 26 years and was Vice President of the organization for 20 years.
For 57 years he was active in the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
From 1956-1963 he was a Staff Sergeant in the Army National Guard.
He was an avid golfer, outdoorsman, history buff, and animal lover. Tom enjoyed traveling, fishing, cooking Chinese food, and building or repairing almost anything.
He was dedicated to his family, friends, and pets. He impacted many lives.
Tom is loved by many, respected by all, and will be sorely missed. His was a life well lived.
He is survived by Susan, his wife of 20 years, his two sons Scott of Stuart, Mark and his wife Dawn of Palm City, daughter Heidi Shea and her husband Eric of Stuart, three stepchildren, Nancy Jesse and her husband Chris of Winter Haven, Patty Palumbo and her husband Lenny of Sanford, and Bob Totilas and his wife Jessie of Jensen Beach. Tom has ten grandchildren Samantha, Krista, Meghan, Daniel, Christopher, Amber, Wiley, Bodie, Corinne, and Nickolas. He is also survived by his Uncle Jim Greenwell of Quincy, Illinois, his brother Bud and his wife Sue of Stuart.