Virginia B. Birkby

Virginia Birkby was born November 2, 1931 in Boston, MA to Earle F. and Margaret Bliss. She attended the Newton, MA public schools and Beaver Country Day School, graduating at age 16. Two brothers died in childhood, and she lost her father at an early age as well. During the war her household also included British children sheltering from the Blitz. Later she attended Smith College, along with her sister Barbara, earning a degree in microbiology in 1952. Thereafter she was employed, first as a chemist at American Cyanamid of Stamford, CT and later at a pharmaceutical advertising agency and at Time Inc. in New York City, answering letters to the editor of LIFE magazine.

Ginny married Donald Birkby of Nutley, NJ in 1958 and moved to Stamford, CT, where she resided for 43 years. There she raised their son Dana, started a garden, and became deeply involved in community service. She first became involved in the AAUW and League of Women Voters and in the desegregation of Stamford public schools. She served Literacy Volunteers, the Friends of Ferguson Library, and numerous other organizations as a volunteer, and acted as full-time volunteer coordinator with the Voluntary Action Center of Stamford. In 1975 Ginny co-founded the Rogers School Community Center Organization, along with Hope Evans, Liz Lockwood, Betty McCrea, and Elaine Sills. She also took up a community relations post with the Stamford Board of Education. Ginny served the public schools for nearly twenty years in this capacity, becoming an accomplished photographer along the way, without noticeable diminution of her volunteer efforts.

Ginny and Don were classical music enthusiasts and long-time members of the Encore / Chamber Music Group founded by Herbert Ashe.

Travel and photography became Ginny's enthusiasms later in life, along with gardening, tennis, classical music and ballet. Her photographs won prizes at community shows in Stamford. She traveled to China, Europe, Turkey, East Africa, Egypt, and throughout the USA. Unfortunately, Ginny was afflicted by Alzheimer's disease for the last twenty years of her life, and by 2001 it became necessary for her to leave Stamford and take up residence near family in the Seattle area.

While living in Woodinville Ginny joined the Northshore United Church of Christ, and exhibited her photographs there and elsewhere. She continued to travel, and enjoyed spending time with family at Cannon Beach, OR. The family is grateful to Aegis of Kirkland and Dr. Lester Sauvage Jr. for their compassionate care of Ginny.

Ginny is survived by a son Dana of Woodinville, WA and his wife Greta; grandchildren Alicia and Michael, and great-grandson Jeffrey Isaac; a sister, Barbara Beebe of Glencoe, IL, and six nieces and nephews including Andrew Beebe of Seattle.