Sue Burns dies of Cancer
Playing home games no longer will be the same for the San Francisco Giants.
Sue Burns gets a hug from Barry Bonds. (Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
The club announced Sunday that Sue Burns, the team’s senior general partner who was a virtual fixture in her seat adjacent to the Giants’ dugout, died overnight of cancer. She was 58.
It became known last week that Burns was seriously ill. Her subsequent physical decline came swiftly.
“It’s so sad that she’s gone, and it’s so sudden and unexpected that it’s overwhelmed all of us with emotion,” Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow said. “We’re all trying to deal with the loss. I totally expect her to be back in her seat when we get back to AT&T Park. It’s just a bitter reminder of how fragile life is. She was a gift.”
Infielder Rich Aurilia, who has spent more years with the Giants than any player on the club, said that his memories of Burns transcend baseball.
“It was what a great woman she was and the way she treated everybody,” Aurilia said. “She’ll be sorely missed sitting in that front row.”
Burns was the widow of Harmon Burns, who died in November of 2006, at age 61. A financier in the San Francisco Bay Area, Harmon Burns was a key member of the investor group that purchased the Giants from Bob Lurie after the 1992 season and prevented them from moving to Tampa-St. Petersburg.
Peter Magowan, the Giants’ managing general partner from the time they were bought from Lurie until last October, addressed Harmon Burns’ largely overlooked impact on the franchise.
“The Giants wouldn’t be here, in my view, had Harmon not had that passion and commitment,” Magowan told The San Francisco Chronicle upon Burns’ death.
Sue Burns inherited the title of senior general partner once her husband died. She had been said to possess the largest ownership stake in the team among its many partners.
Burns’ ardor for the Giants never flagged, even as her illness worsened. As usual, she hosted her annual party for team members, club officials and investors at her Atherton, Calif., home earlier this month.
Led by outfielder Randy Winn, Giants players prayed for Burns before beginning pregame drills after learning of her death Sunday morning. They had videotaped a get-well message for her last Friday.
“There were no bigger fans in the stadium than her and Harmon,” Aurilia said.
Burns is survived by her daughters, Trina and Tori.
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