Charles N. Burns MD

Charles N. Burns, Sr., M.D., Kingston, died April 21, 2009 at Mercy Center in Dallas where he had been a recent guest.

Born February 18, 1916 in Miners Mills he was the son of the late Nicholas S. and Anna Mayock Burns.

He was a graduate of Coughlin High School, at age 16, Class of 1932 and Wyoming Seminary Class of 1933. He enrolled at Bucknell Junior College, now Wilkes University and graduated from Bucknell University in 1937. Accepted into Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, he graduated in 1941.

Returning to Wilkes-Barre, Dr. Burns interned at Mercy Hospital where he met his wife Mary Agnes Quigley, R.N. Drafted into the Army Medical Corps, Dr. Burns at age 28, participated in the Battle of the Bulge as a Battalion Surgeon with the 104th Infantry Division. He was awarded The Bronze Star and separated from the Army in 1946 after attaining the rank of Major.

Dr. Burns completed his medical and urologic surgery training at The Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and the Bronx VA Hospital affiliated with Columbia University in New York City.

In 1950, he became Chief of Urology at Crile VA Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Returning to Wilkes-Barre in 1953, he joined his uncle, Peter P. Mayock, M.D., for the practice of Urology. Later, in 1970, Dr. Burns joined Dr. Marshall U. Rumbaugh at Valley Urologic Associates where they practiced together for over 28 years.

In 1981, Dr. Burns’ son, Dr. Charles N. Burns, Jr., became affiliated and they practiced together until Dr. Burns’ retirement in 2006. Together with Drs. Crescenzo Calise, Michael Rittenberg and Michael Sedlak, the group became Riverview Urologic Associates, one of the oldest urologic groups in the state.

Throughout Dr. Burns’ long career he was credited with inventing instruments which aided urologists in visualization and surgery of the urinary tract. He presented and published scientific papers and lectured in the United States and in Europe on urologic topics. Until his retirement at age 90, he was involved in basic research on prostate cancer at Wilkes University.

In 1987, Wilkes University named the campus bell tower in his honor, as well as presenting him with an honorary degree. A scholarship is also given annually in his name at Wilkes. In 2007, he was a recipient of the Mercy Legacy Award, given by the Sisters of Mercy.

He was a member of St. Ignatius Parish and numerous civic and medical organizations. As the oldest living member of Wyoming Valley Country Club, he was considered the club historian. .

Dr. Burns’ wife, Mary Agnes Quigley Burns, preceded him in death in 1992.

He is survived by his son, Charles N. Burns, Jr. and his wife Sheila
grandchildren Kelly M. Burns of Los Angeles; Cara Long and her husband Robert Long of Philadelphia; Erin Kilduff and her husband Dr. Pat Kilduff of Dallas; Patrick Sean Burns of Philadelphia;
great-grandchildren, Rory Burns Mullin of Dallas and Kieran Patrick Long of Philadelphia.

Friends are invited to join in the celebration of Dr. Burns’ life on Friday from 4 to 7 PM at McLaughlin Family Funeral Service, 142 S. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre. Interment will be at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donors choice or the Charles Burns Scholarship at Wilkes University, 84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766, attention Evelyn Topfer, or to Mercy Center, Sisters of Mercy Retirement Fund, Box 370, Dallas, PA 18612.