He was born in Austin Texas on the 7th of February 1936 and was the only child of Dr. John Alton Burdine, Sr., Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin, and Marian (Manon) Griffith Burdine.
John graduated from Austin High School, and attended The University of Texas at Austin, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and graduated with honors as a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1959. John attended The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, receiving his medical degree in 1961. He also served in the Texas National Guard, achieving the rank of Major. While he was a medical student in Galveston, John met and married Ann Jurecka, a Galveston native, who remained his devoted wife and the love of his life for the next 50 years.
After completing an internship in Internal Medicine at the Indiana University Medical Center, John returned to Galveston in 1962 and completed a residency in Internal Medicine in 1965. It was during this time that John developed an interest in the relatively unknown and highly-specialized field of Nuclear Medicine, a diagnostic area of medicine involving advanced methods to study the structure and functioning of the brain, liver, lungs, kidneys and other organs.
In 1965, John and Ann moved to Houston, where John became a Professor of Radiology and Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, while also serving as Chief of the Nuclear Medicine Sections at Baylor and at the Harris County Hospital District. In 1969, John became Chief of the Nuclear Medicine Service at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital/Texas Children’s Hospital, a position he held for the next 15 years.
John was a true pioneer in developing the specialty of Nuclear Medicine into the crucial role that it plays in healthcare today. In 1972, the St. Luke’s Nuclear Medicine Service, under John’s direction, reported a new breakthrough technique to evaluate lung function at the inception of lung disease. By 1973, John was certified by the American Board of Nuclear Medicine and was a leading national authority in the field. He served as Chairman of the Committee on Nuclear Medicine for the Texas Medical Association and also became an active member in the National Society of Nuclear Medicine, serving on numerous committees, as a member of its Board of Trustees and, ultimately, as its President from 1982-83. During this time, John authored and co-authored more than 120 papers, abstracts and chapters in medical textbooks pertaining primarily to the field of Nuclear Medicine, and became a Fellow of the American College of Nuclear Physicians and Member of the American Board of Nuclear Medicine. From 1969 to 1984, John helped build the Nuclear Medicine Department and Laboratory at St. Luke’s into one of the world’s finest. In the Spring of 1984, John was elected Chief of Staff at St. Luke’s.
In August of 1984, John accepted an offer to become chief executive officer and head administrator of St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital and the Texas Heart Institute. In 1987, his title changed to president and chief executive officer of St. Luke’s, and in 1991, his title changed again to vice chairman and chief executive officer, a position he held until he retired in 1994. John was extremely proud of the physicians, nurses and staff at St. Luke’s during his entire 25-year career there. During his decade-long term as head of St. Luke’s, John continued to emphasize providing patient care at the highest level. He maintained a close working relationship with the medical and nursing staffs at St. Luke’s, and initiated many programs that made the hospital more efficient. John believed it was important for St. Luke’s to have the most modern, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment available, and he led the effort to construct the St. Luke’s Medical Tower, later renamed The O’Quinn Medical Tower at St. Luke’s, and the Skybridge, the 29-story, 500,000-square-foot medical and professional building, whose twin towers remain a proud landmark of both the Texas Medical Center and the City of Houston.
In 1997, John’s numerous accomplishments were recognized when he received the Hall of Honor Award from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin, an award presented to those who have distinguished themselves professionally and who have demonstrated a special interest and pride in, and loyalty to, both the College and The University of Texas.
John was known by many to be a true Renaissance Man. Among his many interests, he was a gourmet cook, a wine connoisseur, raised orchids and loved to hunt, fish, travel and read. He also was a Biblical scholar and popular teacher of the legendary Hines Baker Sunday School class at St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Houston. John loved the outdoors, particularly spending time each summer in Colorado with his family.
In addition to his strong faith, John was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Ann; son, Scott Griffith Burdine and his wife Linda; daughter, Jennifer Ann Burdine; and son, William Carlisle Burdine and his wife Stephanie; and grandchildren Brian, Laura, Katie, Ashley and Natalie Burdine, who affectionately called him “Pop John.”
The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude for the loving care provided by the Plaza at the Buckingham, Odyssey Healthcare and the caring physicians and nurses at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock this afternoon until eight o’clock this evening, Thursday, the 15th of April, in the Library and Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
The memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock tomorrow morning, Friday, the 16th of April, in the Sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street in Houston, where Dr. Wm. “Bill” Heston, Senior Associate Pastor, is to officiate, with the Rt. Rev. Maurice “Ben” Benitez, of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, assisting.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Fellowship Hall.
Prior to the memorial service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.
In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Dr. Burdine may be directed to the Brookwood Community, 1752 Farm to Market Rd. 1489, Brookshire, TX, 77423; or to the Nursing Education Fund at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Office of Healthcare Philanthropy, P. O. Box 20269, MC3-206, Houston, TX, 77225.
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