Charlie Bird was one of the most brilliant lawyers and one of the kindest men that I have ever known. We love and miss you, Charlie!!!

I belatedly heard your terrible news.
Charlie once told me of his favorite vacation.
He was the most down-to-earth, brilliant guy I ever knew.
Once the late UT Opinion editor, Bernie Jones, told me he needed to find a really smart attorney for an Opinion piece he wanted.
I scoffed and said, “Too easy. It’s Charlie Bird.”
Bernie later told me Charlie’s name kept popping up.
Naturally, I scolded Bernie for wasting his own time by not believing me as we happened to speak early in the morning. (But Charlie was on speed-dial after that). 
Best to you and yours. 


I only knew him as my patient.  During the course of his treatment,  I mentioned to him that my daughter is a young lawyer in one of the law firms in downtown San Diego.  This man,  who was undergoing a very difficult treatment for his condition, offered to meet and mentor my daughter.  He wanted the daughter of this Filipino immigrant nurse to be successful in her career!  He was thinking of others even when he was so sick. This says a lot about his character.  He will always be one of my unforgettable patients. 
Rest in peace Charles Bird. 

Great man…..many fond memories..,.great mind…such a good friend to the Mediation Center
Love,
Liz O’Brien

Dear Charlotte and the many friends who loved and admired Charlie,
I have such powerful, wonderful memories of Charlie. He was very important to me, and I count him as a major influence on my learning about leadership. I remember the first strategic planning session for ACLU of San Diego during my time there. We were just seven staff at the time and didn't know what we were capable of. Charlie asked a series of questions about what we wanted to do, what it would take, and then costed it out, spread it out over three years, and said this is what it is. It felt overly ambitious, unrealistic, risky. It was not. He was exactly right, that's what we did, and more importantly we learned to do that again and again. Later at my time at ACLU of San Diego, I witnessed and learned a lesson that I thought was much funnier but it was also important. He would come to board or committee meetings exactly on time and then leave exactly after one hour. The clock struck and there goes Charlie. He never said it but I learned he thought we could and should get what we needed to get done in one hour and in any event that was his contribution. He was drawing lines that respected his full self and other needs and passions, including spending time with you, Charlotte. There was so much more of course: his litigation prowess on behalf of marginalized folks, his showing up at the pride parade on his bike, the many dinners the three of us had, the crazy hiking in Denali, all that he and you have done for others. I will never forget him. He was a lovely man and the greatest kind of American. All my love to you and all those who are grieving and celebrating his memory. Kevin

OBITUARY

Charles Albert Bird

July 1, 1947 – June 21, 2021

El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley & Memorial Park

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