| 1. |  John Monroe Birmingham was born on 15 May 1968 in Summit, Union Co., New Jersey, USA; died on 19 Jun 1997 in Denver, Denver Co., Colorado, USA; was buried in Orient, Suffolk Co., New York, USA. Notes:
John was born in Summit, New Jersey, and graduated from Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest, Illinois. He studied history at Northern Arizona University for a time.
In Jul 1996, he and Teresa were married at the Iliff Seminary Chapel in Denver, Colorado. They lived at 5242 West 9th Avenue in Lakewood. Because of John's diabetic medical condition, their marriage lasted less than a year. They were divorced on 2 Jun 1997, which was less than a month after he received his B.A. degree in history from Metropolitan State College in Denver. He hoped to pursue a career as a history teacher.
On 19 Jun 1997, just two weeks after his divorce, he was driving to his first day of a new job when he was killed instantly in an automobile accident on Interstate Highway 29 in Denver, Colorado. He had just crossed over a bridge and had entered the highway, but he overcorrected his car which went into and up the median causing it to turn over.
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The following is an obituary probably written by John's mother.
John Monre Birmingham, age 29, formerly of Flagstaff, Arizona was killed in an automobile accident in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, 19 Jun 1997. He was born on 15 May 1968 in Lake Forest, Illinois, attended Northern Arizona University and received a B. A. Degree in history from Metropolitan State College in Denver on 11 May. He was planning to return to Flagstaff to obtain a Teacher's Certificate and to enter the master's program in history at NAU. He had hoped to follow a career as a teacher of history.
He was a life member of the following organizations: the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the USA, the Sons of the Revolution, Illinois Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the National Huguenot Society, and Clan Munro. He served as State President of the Illinois State Society Children of the American Revolution from 1984-1985, and was an Honorary State President of the Illinois State Society Children of the American Revolution.
His Professor of History from Northern Arizona University, Prof. Bowles, stated:
"He was a student of mine and among the very best of many, in history at NAU. We discovered many ardent mutual interests, such as history, genealogy, and Huguenot love.
I remember John as a real gentleman in the wide and virtuous sense of the word, and among the very best of many young men it has been my privilege to know."
Survivors are his parents, Mary Lee and John Birmingham of Flagstaff, Arizona; sisters, Georgia Birmingham of Denver, Colorado and Marylee Forsthoff of Arlington Heights, Illinois; brother, Larry Littell of Portland, Maine; stepbrother, Michael Birmingham of San Jose, California and stepsister, Carol Monsebroten of Frontenac, Minnesota, also a nephew, Alexander W. Forsthoff and niece, Julia Monroe Forsthoff of Arlington Heights, Illinois.
A memorial service and celebration of his life was held at the First Universalist Church of Denver on 25 Jun. A graveside service at the Birmingham Family plot at the Orient Cemetery, Orient, New York, conducted by the Rev. james Cavanaug, Minister of the Orient Congregational Church, was held on Saturday, 5 Jul.
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Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA
Died:
Interstate Highway 29
Buried:
Orient Cemetery
John married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1968 - 1997 (29 years)