Obituary

Keith Orville Burnham, a longtime Newport Beach resident, died

Saturday after a long battle with leukemia. He was 78.

Mr. Burnham was born Feb. 8, 1924, in Vancouver, Canada. He served in

the U.S. Army’s Air Corps during World War II and spent two years in

North Africa in the Army Airways Communication System. He graduated with

a bachelor’s degree in business administration from USC.

Mr. Burnham pursued a career in real estate development. He has been

active in local community organizations, including the Newport-Irvine

Rotary Club. A Rotarian since 1959, Mr. Burnham served the organization

in several capacities.

He was also a past director of the Whittier YMCA and of the Whittier

Chamber of Commerce. He also served on that city’s Board of Appeals.

After moving to Newport Beach in 1969, Mr. Burnham became active in Big

Brothers and Big Sisters of Orange County and became president of that

organization. He remained on its advisory board for several years.

He is also a past president of the Linda Isle Homeowners’ Assn., and a

member of the Balboa Bay Club and Big Canyon Country Club.

Mr. Burnham is survived by wife of 54 years Barbara; children Kay,

Brent, Elise, Scott and Jamie; 16 grandchildren; and three

great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rotary Foundation of

Leukemia Society.