Christmas Ship boater retires from holiday tradition at 89

When he first joined the floating light show in 1966, “It was basically something to do during the month of December,” Burgess said.

That outing with his earlier boat, the original Breezy, turned into a family tradition.

“It was like the family Christmas tree,” said his son.

Phil Burgess, 63, has been helping his dad during parade season for more than 20 years.

Eleanor Burgess, who died in 2001 after 53 years of marriage, was the muse for the Roadrunner design.

The couple used to spend each February in Arizona, Bert said.

“My wife bought a wooden carving of a roadrunner. I used it as a model. I drew it out on the garage floor, and added a Santa hat.”

After bending metal conduit into a frame, “It was about 20 feet long,” Bert Burgess said.

“It was always a pleasure to come up the river and see that Roadrunner,” said Doug Romjue, Christmas fleet leader.

That included some foul-weather occasions when Breezy II comprised a third of the fleet, Phil Burgess said.

“We were out one night when there were just three of us. They had canceled it at the last second,” when the Burgesses and a couple of other crews were already at the boathouse.

It was a quick decision, Phil said. “We’re here. Let’s go out.”