December 23, 1932 — April 14, 2019
QUEENSBURY — Philip Donald Birmingham, 86, of Queensbury passed away peacefully on April 14, 2019 at home surrounded by his family and loved ones.
Born on Dec. 23, 1932, in Flushing, New York, he was the son of the late Philip and Helene Birmingham (Powers), and stepson of the late William Powers.
Philip attained the rank of private first class in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and served as an honor guard in Washington D.C. He served from 1953 through 1955, followed by an honorable discharge.
Philip and his wife of 52 years, Jean Lona Birmingham were members of Our Lady of Annunciation Church, where he served as lector on many occasions while Jean also served as eucharistic minister.
Philip and Jean were the founders of the Glens Falls Hometown Thanksgiving Dinner which began in 1985 and continues to this day. Philip loved to write, and he is the author of several books, poems and short stories. Samples of all of his writings can be seen in the Author’s Den at: www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?authorid=12034.
Philip worked for 40 years in the insurance industry as a claims adjuster and then a claims manager for several companies including: Hartford Insurance, Aetna, WL Hatch Agency, Cool Agency and AIG. In 1983, he quit the industry for six months to write his first book, “The Search for Panush”. He then returned to the insurance industry after completing it and resumed his writing upon retirement. During his employment, he attained the very difficult certification of: Certified Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) for which he was very proud. He was truly an expert in his field, and his advice was often sought by other insurance experts and attorneys. He was also well loved by many co-workers who stayed in touch with him until well after retirement.
Philip was well-known for his sense of humor and his ability to tell stories and make people laugh. Even in his final days he kept his sense of humor and would tell jokes when his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren came to visit. Most of all, Philip was an adoring husband to his late wife Jean, who predeceased him in January 2006, and who he sorely missed. He was also a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather to many.
He is survived by his sister, Charmaine Birmingham Morizio; his brother, William John Powers and his wife, JoAnn, of Valley Falls, New York; his four children, Colleen Birmingham Tarantino of Glens Falls, New York, Philip William Birmingham and his wife, Lorraine, of Queensbury, New York, Michael Antoine Birmingham and his wife, Cheryl, of Waterford, New York, Jennifer Birmingham Joyner and her husband, Mike, of Madison, Alabama; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27 at Our Lady of the Annunciation, 448 Aviation Road, Queensbury with Father Joseph Busch, pastor, officiating.
Rite of Committal will be at Pine View Cemetery at 10 a.m. Monday, April 29 with immediate family.
Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 26 at Singleton Sullivan Potter Funeral Home, 407 Bay Road, Queensbury, NY.
The family requests that donations be made in Philip’s honor to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in lieu of flowers.