Brendan Birns
Brendan Birns, of Margaretville, died early Monday morning November 17th. The Life-partner of Dawn Hamil, Brendan was born June 9, 1975 to Catherine Durkin Birns, of Allentown, PA, and Bill Birns of Fleischmanns.
A native Catskill Mountain guy, Brendan grew up in New Kingston when that little burg was home to a gaggle of kids: Squires and Fairbairns, Russells and Pritchetts, Doughertys and Balcoms.
Brendan is survived by his daughter, Francesca, of New Hartford NY; his parents; his brother Patrick, sister-in-law, Marlanda, niece, Rosella, and nephew, Rocco, of Allentown; step-brother, Young McWhinnie, and sister-in-law, Jessica, niece, Delaney and nephew, Declan, of Boscawen, New Hampshire; and step-mum, Gayla.
He is also survived by Dawn’s children and grandchildren, whose sport and dance activities he much admired and enjoyed.
A 1993 graduate of Margaretville Central, Brendan was elected President of the Student-Faculty Senate in both his Junior and Senior years. He played soccer, basketball, and baseball, and was a happy fisherman and a hopeful hunter.
Brendan held a Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta where he majored in political science, great preparation for his fervent participation in political discussions, especially with friends with whom he could respectfully disagree.
After college, Brendan worked in retail and in banking, managing Radio Shack in Catskill, dispensing cash and a kind word at Delaware National Bank of Delhi, managing a Trustco bank branch in Albany.
Later, he distributed papers forThe Mountain Eagle, and even published, in that paper, an outdoor essay or two.
Kidney failure led to a disability that stalled his career. For the last decade, Brendan has been a fixture at the OSS dialysis center in Oneonta. He’s a longtime friend of Bill Wilson.
Known as a compassionate, kind, and friendly fellow, Brendan was respected and loved by many in the mountains.
Visiting Hours at Hynes Funeral Home are 5 to 7 pm on Friday, November 21. Amy Thompkins, pastor of the Margaretville-New Kingston Presbyterian Church, will lead a Funeral Service at 10 am Saturday November 22 at Hynes Funeral Home.
Donations in Brendan’s name to the charity of your choice will be appreciated.