"Connie" Burlingame, the "AV Lady" at St. Andrew's Priory School library for nearly two decades, died Jan. 1, 2009, in Honolulu. Born Margaret Constance Heck on May 5, 1923, in Zanesville, Ohio, she was the eldest daughter of William and Edna Heck. Graduating from Lash High School in 1941, she married high-school sweetheart William Gerald "Bill" Burlingame upon his return from flying combat missions over Europe in 1944.
As a career military wife, Burlingame was one of the first American women to live in occupied Japan, gave birth to her first child in below-zero weather in Alaska and learned how to handle firearms during the Cuban missile crisis. The Burlingames were assigned to Hawaii in 1965 and never left. She worked as a dental assistant before earning a degree in library sciences in 1973 from the University of Hawaii, and then worked in the library at St. Andrew's Priory until retiring in the early '90s. She loved it when former Priory students remembered her.

During their retirement years, the Burlingames traveled widely, and Burlingame's zest for life and endless curiosity led her to study the art, history and culture of the countries she visited. Bill Burlingame died in February 2008. They were members of Central Union Church, where she was a former deaconess.

Burlingame is survived by sister Faith Elizabeth Fell of Ohio; sons William G. "Burl" Jr., Dirk L., David L. and Mark R.; grandchildren Amelia and Katharine Burlingame and Helena Al-Kubaisi; brothers-in-law Robert J. Burlingame and Jerry Fell; sister-in-law Ann Leah; daughters-in-law Mary, Pam and Kate Burlingame; nephews Michael, Scott and Jeff Burlingame and Kevin, Shawn and Micah Fell; and nieces-in-law Marie, Diane and Lisa Fell.

Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Atherton Memorial Chapel of Central Union Church, followed by a reception, and then an inurnment at 3 p.m. at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl. Donations suggested to the Alzheimer's Association-Aloha Chapter, St. Andrew's Priory or any U.S. Air Force charity.