Burton Eugene Staffen, born November 11, 1929, would have been 80 years old today. I wanted to do something to remember him by. Although at the moment, I don't have the time to do him justice, I at least wanted there to be something out there in the ether (i.e., the internet) that carried his name. The obituaries that I used to find by Googling his name are, unfortunately, no longer in existence.
I was recently contacted on Facebook by another Staffen who, like my Dad, hails from Michigan. He was wondering if we might be related. We wrote back and forth and I composed the following for him. It's not much, but it's the best I could do on short notice. Should you wish to fill in the missing details, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.
Burton Eugene Staffen was born on November 11, 1929 in Greenville, MI, King County, to Allen Staffen - a Free Methodist Minister - and Linda (Kassner) Staffen. I think he was the second youngest of eight children. Brothers and sisters whose name I recall are Arnold (Arnie), Robert (Bob), Marsha, Louie and...and...boy, I can't remember. The eldest son, Deforest (sp) died at the age of twelve after falling through thin ice while crossing a frozen pond.
I know he served in the Korean War and was a Chaplain's Assistant. He did 4 years at the University of Michigan and fell just short of earning his masters degree in music.
Music and photography were his passions. While living in New York, he attended the New York Institute of Photography.
On December 1, 1962 at the age of 33, Burt married my mother, Sheila "Patti" Patsy Fuller in Los Angeles, California. Eleven months later, my sister Traci was born. I came along in 1966. In 1968, The Staffen family moved to the L.A. suburb of Thousand Oaks, where my brother Jarrod was born in 1969.
Having joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) shortly after meeting Patti, Burt enjoyed serving in a number of capacities that were provided him. He was a beloved church choir director and was best known for the numerous, heartwarming Christmas programs he conducted.
Burt was very well known and loved in the international SPEBSQSA community, having sung with, directed and been coach to, several Barbershop quartets and choruses, eventually winning the 1996 Seniors International Champions with his quartet, "A Little Fatherly Advice".
My Mom, Patti, and her Sweet Adelines quartet, The Shalimars, won internationals in 1965 (and are still known as one of the best!).
Patti and Burt also sang with the Southern California Mormon Choir. Their time with the choir took them to places such as Sydney, Egypt, Israel and Mexico.
In 1989, the Staffen family moved to Redmond, Washington, where Burt and Patti later retired, giving them the opportunity to continue their travels.
After a courageous, five year battle with metastatic colon cancer, Burt passed away on July 9, 2009.
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I love you, Dad.
