Jay Burch OBITUARY
Obituary Jay D. Burch August 25. 1944 – June 5, 2024 Jay D. Burch died at the age of 79 on June 5, 2024 in Boulder, CO. Near the time of his death, he observed that he was coming to understand that, despite having terminal cancer, his essential self did not have cancer. Instead, he was in touch with a part of his experience that transcended illness and mortality. Jay was born on August 25, 1944 in Modesto, California to Hamlin D. and Bernice (Ingerski) Burch. He was the fourth of four brothers, Hamlin, III; William; and Robert Burch. Jay spent his early years in Modesto but moved to Sacramento to attend his freshman and sophomore years at Christian Brothers High School. He later transferred to Mount LaSalle Seminary, where he studied to be a Christian Brother. Leaving the junior novitiate, Jay went on to attend St. Mary’s College of California in Moraga. Though his first love was the philosophy of science, he graduated with a degree in physics in January, 1967. He often looked back with particular fondness on his philosophy professor, Dr. Frank Ellis. After college, Jay worked with the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC. During that time, he married Glenda Russell and they had two children, Michael and Shana Burch. The War in Vietnam was raging, and Jay was keeping one step ahead of the draft board. When the Navy offered him a lucrative position that would have allowed him to attend graduate school while working, his commitment to peace made it impossible for him to accept. Seeking an alternative, Jay was accepted to graduate school at the University of Colorado Boulder, receiving his Ph.D. in physics in January, 1977. During that time, his first marriage ended in divorce. After graduate school, Jay taught at the Colorado School of Mines for several years. He spent the next 35 years working at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden. He was passionate about his work and was widely respected in his field. He collaborated with colleagues in national laboratories, academic institutions, and industry. While Jay was proud of his work at NREL, which included receiving a Researcher of the Year Award, he was more likely to tell others about the time he suddenly became aware of having inadvertently put a still-lit cigarette in his pants pocket while meeting with an important colleague during an on-site visit. Jay went on to marry Jacqueline Trump in 1991, and that marriage ended in divorce. Jay has been a member of the Center for Spiritual Living Boulder Valley for many years. He also had two enduring avocations. One was music. He was an accomplished pianist as well as a faithful audience member for the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra. He also was an avid tennis player, regularly playing and participating in tournaments-having won around 60–until well into his seventies. Jay was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Michael; and his brother, Robert. He is survived by his daughter, Shana Metsch; his son-in-law, Dan Metsch; and his granddaughter, Hannah Metsch, all of Princeville, Hawaii; and by his grandson, Benjamin Metsch of Tempe, Arizona; his brothers, Hamlin and William; as well as six nieces and four nephews also survive. Jay’s body was cremated, and his ashes will be scattered by friends at some of his favorite places. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on July 26 at First United Methodist Church at 1255 Centaur Village Drive, Lafayette CO. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall in the church. Contributions in Jay’s name may be made to the Advancement Office, St. Mary’s College of California, 1928 St. Mary’s Road, PMB 4300, Moraga, CA 94575 (or advdevelopment @stmarys-ca.edu).
