Obituary of Jon Arthur Birdsall

Jon Arthur Birdsall Pine Bush, NY Jon Birdsall of Pine Bush passed away on Friday, May 14, 2010, at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie after a short illness due to undiagnosed colon cancer. He was nearly 61. Jon graduated from Valley Central High School. He was an Army veteran who served in Germany during the Vietnam War. Jon was a mechanic and worked for several area firms, and finally was self employed. He was a race fan and loved classic car shows. He had just recently resumed playing the violin. Jon was a reclamation specialist who found ways to bring things back to life that others had given up on. He was the guy you took your car to when you had no money. He had a special way of communicating with dogs. He saved several during his lifetime, adding extra years to their lives - something he was unable to do for himself. He created art from junk and, on occasion, just junk. Hopefully his spirit will end up in the hands of a fabricator with all the right tools. Jon made several contributions in his lifetime. He introduced the lunchroom sit-in in elementary school, although he was the lone participant it was a concept not widely known in 1956 - at least not to the administration of the Walden Elementary School. He introduced several subtle customizing concepts on the cars he had in Europe in 1969, challenging the renowned German engineering establishment. Jon followed his own paths. Jon is survived by his brother Max and his wife Suzanne of Saratoga Springs, NY and his nieces Sarah Birdsall of Denver, Co. and Molly Birdsall of Staten Island, NY. He is predeceased by his brother Kurt Birdsall and his sister JoAnn Sasfai. We know he is no longer suffering and trust he will join his family who awaits him. Memorial visitation will be held on Thursday May 20, 2010 from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the William M. Gagan Funeral Home Inc. 1525 Burlingham Road, Pine Bush, NY 12566. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers donations in Jon’s name may be made to the Middletown Humane Society, 142 Bloomingburg Road, Middletown, NY 10940. Arrangements are entrusted to the William M. Gagan Funeral Home Inc. 845-744-6008 or www.wmgaganfuneralhome.com.