Obituary of Walter Birbeck, Jr.

Walter Birbeck Jr., age 78, of Mauricetown, NJ, passed away on Sunday, January 17, 2021, from complications arising from a Covid infection. Walter was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania on May 22, 1942, the son of the late Walter and Mary Jane (Mitton) Birbeck. He grew up in Philadelphia, attended St. Athanasius School, St. Joseph's Preparatory School, and was graduated from St. Joseph’s College in 1964. After a year of graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania, Walter enlisted in the USMC in 1965 and was discharged with a Captains rank in 1968. His primary overseas station was Iwakun Marine Air station in Japan where he was an air traffic controller during the Vietnam conflict. After his return from the USMC, Walter worked as a social worker first with the Philadelphia State Hospital and then with PMHCC (Philadelphia Mental Health Care Corporation) from where he retired in 2012. While at St. Joe’s Prep and at St. Joe’s College, Walt rowed on the crew team. His high school team competed in an international competition in Japan. At St. Joe’s College, he was also the co-editor of the school newspaper, the Hawk. In Philadelphia Walt was a member of the Philadelphia Sailing Club where he became a licensed skipper leading  trips on the Chesapeake Bay and in the British Virgin Islands. His love of canoeing and kayaking resulted in a long membership association with the Philadelphia Canoe and Kayak club. Looking forward to retirement, Walt moved to Mauricetown, NJ in 2008. There he spent his time writing music, singing, hiking, birding, paddling his kayak, and generally enjoying rural life along the Maurice River. He was deeply loved by many musician friends in the Bayshore area whom he invited to join him to play his musical compositions about his adopted home, it's environment, and folklore. He always encouraged and welcomed both the professional and the beginner at his well known Sunday music sessions.  Walt was an active participant in local organizations such as Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River, Bayshore Discovery Project, and the Mauricetown Historical Society. A covid compliant memorial service will be held at Mauricetown Park, High Street at the Maurice River, Mauricetown, NJ, on Saturday, May 22nd, at 12:00 Noon followed by a repast nearby.