Robert Crowell Birdsey

BIRDSEY, ROBERT CROWELL Robert Crowell Birdsey left to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 27th. Born on October 10, 1919 to the late Daniel Howard Birdsey and Mary Etta Crowell Birdsey, he lived his whole life in Middlefield in the same house built by his grandfather on the farm that had been in the family for many generations. Bob started school in the East District School and moved to the Center School when it opened. He biked to classes at Woodrow Wilson High School and then entered Wesleyan University. The death of his father caused him to drop out of Wesleyan to run the family farm. He never lost interest in the University attending Middletown Scientific Association meetings and Alumni functions. After operating the farm for years, he went to work as a lab technician for CT DOT Testing Lab. At the time of his retirement, he was in charge of all physical testing at the lab. Bob loved many genres of music and especially enjoyed playing the piano. He was an active member of the Goodspeed Opera Guild and the Connecticut Opera Society. Bob will also be remembered for his collection of Peonies numbering more than 200 varieties. They have been the subject of several feature articles over the years published in the Hartford Courant, Middletown Press and the Town Times. Bob is survived by his son, John H. Birdsey and his wife, Christine of Phelps, NY; three daughters, Esther M. Bernhardt of Middlefield, Barbara L. Birdsey of Canaan, NH and Phyllis M. Augeri and her husband, Richard of Middletown; eight grandchildren, Elizabeth Soleiman and her husband, Justin, Abigail Burden and her husband, David, Daniel Birdsey, Jennifer dePadua and her husband, Christopher, Shawn Birdsey, Kevin Birdsey, Joseph Augeri and Christopher Augeri and his wife, Rebecca; thirteen great grandchildren, Timaetheus, Rebecca, Johnathan, Rachel, Andrew, Matthew, Daniel, Nathanael, Anna Rose, Lacey, Katelyn, Nicole, and Ciarah and very dear cousins in California and South Carolina. Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Edward Birdsey. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 3rd at 11:00am at Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church Street, Middletown with Rev. Dr. Dale H. Azevedo officiating. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday morning from 10:00 to 11:00am at the funeral home and may send messages of condolence to the family at: www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.