SOUTHBURY – William J. Birmingham, Ph.D., 89, of Southbury, entered into the gates of Heaven on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at the Beacon Brook Health Center in Naugatuck. He was the loving husband of Barbara M. (Beres) Birmingham.
Bill was born in Waterbury on Feb. 13, 1935, son of the late William J. and Dorothy (Jackson) Birmingham. He attended St. Francis School in Waterbury before graduating from Holy Cross High School, class of 1953. He earned a bachelor’s degree in science education from the Teachers College of Central Connecticut (CCSU), a master’s in zoology from UMass-Amherst, and a doctorate in education from UConn in 1972.
Bill had a long career in education in southern New England. He taught biology in Woodbury/ Region 14 in the 1960s and then became the vice principal of Nonnewaug High School. He later served as an assistant superintendent in Dalton and Arlington, Mass. In the 1980s, he was the school superintendent in Region 15/Southbury and Middlebury.
He was an avid sports enthusiast and college athlete before coaching track, cross country, women’s basketball and softball, and soccer. He was a longtime Scoutmaster of Troop 61 in Southbury, and he trained adult Scout Leaders in Greater Waterbury for more than 25 years.
He previously served as the senior warden at the Church of the Epiphany in Southbury, and was a vestry member and youth group leader for several churches in southern New England.
Besides his wife Barbara of 63 years, Bill leaves to honor and cherish his memory three children, William “Steven” Birmingham and his wife Sherry Blackstone, of Lowell, Mass., Susan Kather and her husband Michael, of Waterbury, and Michael J. Birmingham and his wife Teresa, of Portland, Maine; two sisters, Elizabeth “Bunny” Phelan and Ann LaRose, both of Waterbury; a brother, Fred Birmingham of Cheshire; five grandchildren, Jackson, Lily, Henry, Elsie, and Hannah; and many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours for Bill will be Friday, Feb. 23, from 5 to 8 p.m. At 7:15 p.m. during this time there will be a eulogy and time to publicly share stories about Bill. This will occur at Brookside Memorial/The Albini Family Funeral Home & Crematory, 200 Benson Road, Middlebury.
A funeral and memorial service will be at All Saints with Christ Episcopal Church, 262 Main St., Oakville, at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, with a reception to follow.
Memorial contributions can be made in Bill’s memory to: CRC/Mattatuck Volunteers, P.O. Box 257, Plymouth, CT 06782.
For more info or send to an online condolence, please visit brooksidememorial.com.
