Todd Burley
October 26, 1955 – November 6, 2024
Todd Burley (69), longtime resident of Waitsfield, Vermont, died suddenly and unexpectedly on November 6, 2024, at his home in Waitsfield.
Born in Buffalo, New York, to Robert and Patricia (Funk) Burley, his early youth was spent in Buffalo, New York; London, England; Birmingham, Michigan; New Haven, Connecticut; and New York City, before the family came to the Mad River Valley in the mid-1960s. He was a student at Fayston Elementary School and then Harwood Union High School. Todd graduated from Vermont Academy in 1973 and from the University of Vermont in 1984.
Todd’s interests were many and varied throughout his life, naturally showing his intelligence, his sense of humor, his creativity, and his gift for storytelling. His artistic pursuits started early, with a strong bent toward the visual arts. Throughout his young years, he enjoyed drawing, photography, and sculpting, and followed this focus when he went to college, majoring in Studio Art.
As an athletic child, Todd participated in sports on his own and at school. He skied both Mad River Glen and Sugarbush ski areas, always with a sense of graceful style that echoed some of his early idols, including Stein Eriksen, with whom he and friends occasionally skied in those early Sugarbush years.
Todd took an interest in woodworking at a young age, learning tools and skills under the guidance of Frank Day at Knoll Farm. This developed further when his family brought a 38-foot wooden boat from Lake Willoughby to a barn in Warren for restoration, the start of a lifelong endeavor. Following college, Todd settled in Essex, New York, and set up a shop to work on wooden boats, in a small garage. Over the years, he turned his passion for restoring antique wooden boats into a business, Essex Boatworks. During those years, he also developed and managed The Lake House, a small bed and breakfast, and Essex Provisions, a local delicatessen and small store.
Interesting and unique objects, large and small, always caught Todd’s eye. He collected all sorts of things, and took great pleasure in their history and physical workings. He was a voracious reader throughout his life. A friend recollected that Todd had a unique and gentle way of teaching others as he shared his knowledge and talents. He enjoyed telling stories and had a gift for remembering the people – their voices and mannerisms – especially “characters” of the Mad River Valley, the Shelburne Shipyard, and the Lake Champlain Ferry Company, places that he worked summers, before and during college.
Todd enjoyed fishing and being outdoors, taking trips to Canada as a child with his grandparents. As an adult, he sought out remote and little-known spots along the Mad River and in the Adirondacks. He spent time in the woods with friends, camping, fishing, and enjoying nature.
Eventually, Todd retired from his boat restoration business, moving back to The Valley to help his parents. This included accompanying them down the Inland Waterway with their trawler to the Florida Keys, and back. Since the loss of his mother in 2022, Todd cared for his father at home, taking great pleasure and pride in cooking and preparing healthy meals.
Todd is survived by his father, Robert (Bob) Burley, and his sister, Jill Burley. He was predeceased by his mother, Patricia Burley. The family will hold a private graveside service in the spring. Notes, memories, or other condolences can be sent to Robert Burley at 185 Pine Haven Shores, Unit 317, Shelburne, VT, 05482. They will be cherished by Todd’s bereaved family.
