Thomas Frederick Birch

Thomas Frederick Birch, 79, of Newtown, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died at his home, June 24, after a long illness with Alzheimer’s disease. Mr Birch was born at St Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport, and grew up on Bronson Road in Southport.

He was a United States Navy veteran of the Korean War, and worked at Sikorsky Airport for 39 years. He has a passion for gardening, loved running, adored his grandchildren, and was an avid fan of the UConn Women Huskies and the Boston Red Sox.

His wife, Julie; his son, Thomas Birch of Brookfield; his daughter Kimberly Carney, and her husband Sean, of Fairfield; four grandchildren; his brothers George, and his wife Donna, and Daniel Birch; his sisters, Teresa Schoer, Mary Sier, and Carol Stannard; his in-laws Lygia Velasquez, Richard Velasquez, Victor Velasquez, and Nancy Slaggert and Maureen Birch; and several nephews and nieces survive Mr Birch.

The family would like to offer special heartfelt thanks to all the caring staff at Masonicare of Newtown and especially the Hospice Team for their excellent and loving care, compassion, and support. They also extend gratitude to Krystyna Baczewska, his faithful caretaker.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated June 28 at St Rose of Lima Church. Burial took place at Oak Lawn Cemetery, 1530 Bronson Road, Fairfield.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Association, 2075 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 100, Rocky Hill CT 06067.

The Newtown Bee        June 29, 2012