John James Birmingham
May 25, 1932 – April 16, 2018
After a long brave fight with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body dementia, John “JB” Birmingham left this world on April 16, 2018.
Born in Manhattan, New York, on May 25, 1932, John was the eldest of four born to John and Helen Birmingham. When John was a teenager, he and his three sisters, Helen, Kathleen and Alice moved to the Highbridge section of the Bronx where they spent many memorable years.
John, always known as JB to all, enlisted in the Army in 1951, during the Korean War. He served in Germany, and was honorably discharged in 1954. He suffered from sleepwalking for many years, never dreaming it would save his life and the lives of his unit. One night the unit was in a new area and they hadn’t dug their trenches deep enough. JB woke screaming, “The tanks are coming! The tanks are coming!” and began running. Thankfully the troops awoke too because the tanks driving by would have run them all over since their trenches weren’t deep enough.
JB was a jack-of-all-trades. For years he was employed as a sand hog in New York, working in the water tunnels. While working in the Bronx he stopped at the Rustic Inn bar for a beer. It was there he met his future wife, Joan, who worked there. He held many jobs during his life. He bartended at Bill and Bob’s Lounge, along with his now wife Joan, on White Plains Road in the Bronx, drove a taxi and he later spent eighteen years with the United States Post Office. JB worked in many departments before finally taking to the streets with his own route on City Island delivering express mail. Most of the mail carriers were given mace to protect themselves in case of dog attacks, but JB bought cookies instead because he wanted to make friends instead of enemies.
In 1993, JB received a special achievement award for notable performance along with a $500 check from the Post Office. Upon his retirement he was presented with a dedicated service award for an honorable and distinguished career.
JB and Joan moved from the Bronx to Monroe, New York after his retirement, but John, a people person, soon found himself bartending at the American Legion Post 488. He loved regaling all with tales from his life as well as sharing his knowledge of the World Wars and American history. In 2010, the couple moved to Clearwater, Florida.
John is survived by his son, John Jr., from his first marriage; Joan Mina Birmingham, his wife of 32 years; his step children, George, Diane, Robert and Richard; eleven grandchildren and one great grandson. He is also survived by his two sisters Kathleen and Alice, plus many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is scheduled at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at Veterans Funeral Care 15381 Roosevelt Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33760.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to foundations for Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body dementia.
Uncle John, where do I begin? I have so many memories of fun times shared with you. Your fun stories never failed to make me giggle and smile. I know we will meet again so this isn’t goodbye, but a see you later. Love your niece, Anne Marie.
Joan, I hope the many memories you and Uncle John shared bring you comfort at this difficult time.
My Johnny boy, you will be sadly missed by me and bogard. This is me the Big D, that is what you called me. I have great wonderful memories of you with mom, stacy, Denise and of course Logan, you will never be forgotten, until we all meet again,may God bless you in his arms.
May West here!! Why don’t you come over and visit sometime. I can see that mischievous little twinkle in your eye. Rest In Peace John until we meet again. My heartfelt condolences to Joan and the family. John you will be missed and truly loved.
My condolences to Joan and her family at this time Of sorrow.we only known john for a short amount of time and in that time he always made us laugh .He will be truly missed by all of us Rest in peace johnny boy until we meet again
Oh my Johnny Boy!! You sure are going to be missed. I have such wonderful memories of you that I will cherish forever. I can still hear your laugh and you saying hey Sweetheart. I know where ever you are, you’re drinking a Schaffer, playing cards and telling some funny jokes. Rest In Peace big guy until we meet again. Love you always💙 Denise xoxoxoxo
Johnny Boy!!! The impact and everlasting impression you gave, will always be treasured. Though the physical has moved on, The countless memories and your energy isn’t going anywhere. Thank you for the jokes, the laughter and the welcoming feeling of Family. I count myself truly blessed to have had you Mr. Johnny boy as a part of my life for many years. Let the stories and jokes live on. Peace love and blessings to you, Nani and the Family. Xoxo Danny Boy
Johnny Boy,
You truly will be missed by me and my family. We shared so many good memories with you and Mom.
I remember all the fun times we had watching football together in the Bronx on Sundays. Life seemed like it would last forever, I missed those days. Also when you would come to my house in Rockland county for certain holidays. You would have all of us crying with laughter with all the funny stories. My in-laws would always say what a great guy John was. you were loved by all! You will forever be in our HEART!
Love You.
God Bless You! Sleep In Peace.
Johnny Boy- where to begin….😢 I’m glad only because you are not suffering now & you are at peace, God definitely gained an angel 😇 I miss you so much, Logan misses you, we all do. I’ll always remember the amazing memories we made & had, we were like partners in crime,no matter what was going on you were always there for me & always gave me the best
advice. I know you are looking down on all of us & you will always be in our hearts! Until we meet again i will never forget you & always love you! R.I.P.
John, Helen, myself and Alice were siblings. We went from Manhattan to the Bronx on Sedgwick Avenue. John left from there to join the Army. I still remember the bus that came to pick him up and the others enlisted.
We later moved to the North Bronx. John was always a great brother. However, he had some great fears which were serious but at times funny. John came to visit and stayed with us for a while. He hung a baseball bat from the bedroom ceiling in case anyone broke into the house.
He always brought his son John Jr. to visit me. In later years he married the love of his life, Joan. My husband Bill says the best thing John did for him was to introduce him to Joan, who later worked for many years at Bill and Bob’s Lounge.
We shall miss him terribly.
His sister Chickie aka KMcK
A light has gone out in my life. 45 years of friendship has been torn asunder by his leaving me. Being friends with you was always like being in the eye of the storm. You always kept things whirling and it was never dull. I remember that although we may have drifted apart we always kept in touch and never forgot each other. JB had that faculty to assess a situation and then let it “all hang out” regardless of consequence which I so admired but never could do. I remember the story of his going out to JFK airport to pick up “overnight” and other mail. He arrived early am to beat the traffic. He went to the line shack where air crews and ground crews congregated and then drove out to the tarmac where the incoming planes were unloaded. While there, the air crew steward called for a coffee break. JB drove everyone to the line shack. Had the 15 minute coffee break and return to continue to unload the plane of mail. Unfortunately, that plane had been cleaned up and took off for Atlanta, Ga. He stayed at JFK until the plane returned, unloaded the rest of the overnight mail and headed to the Post Office. When he got to the Post Office the Supervisors were in an uproar as people were calling to ask why they did not get their anticipated overnight mail. As the Supervisors were trying to come up with good excuses. JB had the perfect answer. “Tell them it was an Act of God” That was JB. He is gone and I know we will never see his like again. Farewell, old buddy. See you at the top of the hill.
JB The King of Characters
Lets look back and celebrate John’s life with a big smile because that was what John was all about.His role in life was to to make you laugh and laugh you did.He was unique in the way he responded to a simple Hello or question.You knew his response would always make you laugh.Despite his illness he never lost his sense of humor, just ask his nurses.His life redefined the term PERSONALITY, maybe Websters Dictionary will replace the definition of Personality with a picture of JOHN. HEAVEN is LAUGHING