George Burtness will follow in his father’s footsteps Wednesday when he accepts the Santa Barbara Foundation’s 82nd Person of the Year award, honoring his thousands of hours of dedicated community service.
It’s a tribute bestowed upon his father 47 years ago, and at 93 years old, Burtness calls it “the highest honor of my life.”
Burtness is widely recognized for his extensive contributions to local health care, having served for 17 years as a volunteer with Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, including leading the Volunteer Board, which supports the work of 900 volunteers across three hospitals.
He also served as a member of the Cottage Hospital Institutional Review Board, and as chair of the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute — a position previously held by his father, Dr. Hildahl Burtness, whose lifelong commitment to service inspired his son’s dedication to philanthropy.
That legacy of compassion began when Dr. Burtness joined Dr. Sansum in 1929 as one of the founding physicians of what would evolve from a small practice into the comprehensive Sansum Clinic that exists today.
“I remember being deeply impressed by my father, who would often wake at 3 a.m. to tend to patients in need,” Burtness remembered. “This was back in the old days when doctors still made house calls, and I witnessed my father consistently going above the call of duty to serve his patients.”
Inspired by his father’s dedication — from meticulous patient care to providing medical services to youth groups — Burtness fostered a lifelong commitment to health care and community service.
He established the George L. Burtness Endowment in Nursing Education to perpetually support scholarships for nursing students to further their education and clinical skills.
“Cottage is probably my favorite place to volunteer because it’s such a giving community,” said Burtness, who only paused his volunteer work recently while recovering from hip surgery.
“The whole health care field is a giving group of people, and especially the nurses who I always refer to as the glue that holds the whole place together. It feels good to be part of the givers.
“Volunteering is a way for me to stay engaged and do something meaningful. Witnessing patient satisfaction is deeply rewarding; hospitals can be stressful places, and if I can help ease some anxiety for patients, it brings me joy.”
Burtness’ volunteerism extends beyond hospital settings and into cultural institutions and conservation fields.
A lifelong conservationist, Burtness spent 40 years in Palo Alto, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in business administration from Stanford University.
He participated in conservation biology projects that led him from studying biodiversity in Costa Rica and observing reef fishes in the U.S. Virgin Islands to various other conservation efforts across the globe.
He also spent five years in the U.S. Air Force monitoring radar devices around Alaska’s oceans.
Returning to Santa Barbara in 1990, Burtness volunteered for The Nature Conservancy on Santa Cruz Island, dedicating 45 years to studying endangered species and supporting Channel Islands Restoration projects.
He also has volunteered with Lotusland for three decades, recorded audiobooks for the Braille Institute’s Talking Books program and provided support for Direct Relief.
Burtness has provided leadership expertise across numerous nonprofit boards, serving as president of the Lobero Theatre Foundation, and as a board member for the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the Music Academy of the West, Channel Islands Restoration, the Lotusland Lotus Society and the Santa Cruz Island Foundation Advisory Board.
Burtness said the Person of the Year honor holds special significance for him as it encompasses decades of his life.
“To be part of this esteemed group of individuals, who have really done incredible things here in Santa Barbara — most of them much more than I — it’s truly humbling and an honor to be included,” he said.
“I guess it means I’ve done something good, and that is a very comforting thought to know that at least something you’ve done in your life, which in my case is getting to be long, has been worthwhile and worth recognizing.”
Burtness will be honored along with Dr. Carrie Towbes at the Santa Barbara Foundation’s 82nd Persons of the Year awards luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Rotunda at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd. Click here for more information.
In addition to the Santa Barbara Foundation, the celebration is supported by sponsors Montecito Bank & Trust; Noozhawk; Cox; The Kellogg Organization; Bartlett, Pringle & Wolf; Cindy and Steve Lyons; Patty MacFarlane; Katina Zaninovich; and Ventura Rental Party & Events.
