Lorin J. "Tony" Burbank

Lorin J. “Tony” Burbank died at his home in Salt Lake City on August 6, 2024 at the age of 85. He was born January 18, 1939 in Tremonton, Utah to James Lorin and Winona Sylvia Christensen Burbank. He started life on a farm with his three older sisters in Tremonton. Tony and his parents moved to Bosman, Montana where he graduated High School. He and his nephew Lonnie were around the same age and remained close throughout their lives.

He married Cissie (Georgiana Lees) in 1961 in Salt Lake City. They moved to New Jersey where Tony graduated with honors at Rutgers University in Russian. While at Rutgers Tony was the assistant to the Department Chair, which required him to speak, read and write in Russian. Next the family moved to Kansas where Tony studied for a Masters Degree in Russian Literature at University of Kansas (completing the degree at the University of Utah), then returning to Salt Lake City to raise their three boys.

Tony built a career as a technical writer. He battled with eyesight problems since his twenties, he went blind in his late 50’s - but he didn’t slow down. He enjoyed gardening, taking all the kids and grandkids to blockbuster movie openings, exploring the city with the Utah Blind Center and as a life-long learner he was always in a Russian class and other continuing education classes.

Tony was an artist. He was a professional ballet dancer and instructor (in NYC and SLC) in his twenties but carried on as an arts and culture enthusiast throughout his life. Notably he and Cissie where early members of the famous Mr. Christensen Salt Lake Ballet Company (now Ballet West). Annually they performed the Nutcracker, Tony often playing the role of a Spanish Dancer. He was your go-to source for theatre, music, dance and cultural happenings past or current.

When you are transported by a smooth crooning singer or a powerful moment in a symphony’s performance that is to know the style Tony had about him. Tony valued chivalry and grace not always found today and to honor him is to carry-on his curiosity and decency.

When you need a memory trigger of Tony: go to the movie theatre and pick-up some to-go popcorn to munch at home, eat a hot dog, look for an extra special treat to give your friends/love ones, say yes to doing things even if you don’t want to do them, and always wrap your Christmas gifts with precision, and love.

Tony and Cissie were definitely a pair, you didn’t find one without the other. “Oh, Mother” was a frequent term of love and exasperation. They did well together with their time on earth, and Tony will certainly be planning fun adventures for their reuniting.

Tony is survived by his wife of 62 years Cissie (Georgiana Lees), sister Jean Ewell, brother-in-law Taylor (Janet) Lees, son Chris (Maura), son Michael (Jennifer), son David. Grandchildren: Alexa (Josh), Thomas (Jessie), Mathew (Hailey), Madden, Sam, Destiny, Denise, Mason and five great-grandkids.

Funeral services will be Saturday Aug. 17, 2024 at 11:00am at Larkin Funeral Home, 260 South Temple St. in Salt Lake City. The viewing will be held the same day, Saturday August 17, 2024 at Larken from 9:30am – 10:45am.

The family requests considering a donation to National Federal of the Blind (nfb.org) in Tony’s name instead of flowers.