Adrian Birdsall is remembered in West Milford

BY ANN GENADER
WEST MILFORD — Lifelong resident Adrian H. Birdsall is remembered for his volunteerism and dedication to the Township of West Milford. When he died on Sunday, Jan. 8, there was an outpouring of friendship and love as people of the community gathered at Richards Funeral Home to pay their respects. A funeral service there on Wednesday morning was followed by a procession around West Milford, led by fire department vehicles from his Fire Company 6 — carrying Birdsall to his resting place at Cedar Heights Cemetery on Ridge Road.
Fire Co. 6 members speak of BirdsallTownship of West Milford Fire Company 6 Chief Ed Aldrich and other company fire fighters shared information about the volunteerism of Birdsall.
“Adrian has been a mentor and good friend to many current and former members of the fire department,” said Aldrich. “He was well respected throughout the fire department — always willing to assist and train new and senior members in any aspect of fire fighting from truck operations to officer responsibilities.”
The chief said that condolences continue to pour into the fire house.
“You could always count on him to get you to the scene quickly and safely,” said another firefighter.
Lifelong volunteerBirdsall was a model candidate for the annual Mary B. Haase Lifetime Volunteer Award that he received on April 18, 2012, said Mayor Bettina Bieri in making the presentation. The award is bestowed on an individual who embodies a genuine spirit of volunteerism through a lifetime of dedication and service to the township.
He was chosen by a panel of former mayors who said they selected someone who truly lived a life of volunteerism.
Birdsall was a member of a fire department since he was just 12. He also was a member of the West Milford Museum Committee.
A son of West MilfordBirdsall grew up in the Newfoundland section of the township, attended a rural school for his elementary education and with no existing township high school, went to a consolidated high school with students from other area towns.
He was just 12 when he became a junior fire fighter with the Community Fire Company of Newfoundland and Oak Ridge (now known as West Milford Township Fire Company 2). At 18, he became a regular volunteer fireman with the company.
When he married and moved to West Milford Village in 1961, he joined the West Milford Fire Company (then based in the former Mechanics Hall — now a bicycle shop) on Union Valley Road. When Birdsall was company chief between 1968 and 1970, he oversaw stages of construction of a new Company 6 fire house on Ridge Road.
For five years he worked at the American Hard Rubber Company in Butler. Then he began a 42-year career with the West Milford Department of Public Works as a laborer and retired as assistant director of Public Works.
Surviving Birdsall are his three sons, John Birdsall, Douglas and Kevin Hill; his two daughters, Linda Birdsall and Cindy McNaught; his 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Roberta (Hall) Birdsall, and his daughter Kathy Birdsall.
On Wednesday, Birdsall took his last trip on his beloved fire engine. His brethren drove past Fire Company 6 on Ridge Road one last time, on the way to his final resting place at Cedar Heights Cemetery.
Persons wishing to make a donation in Birdsall’s memory can do so with a contribution to the West Milford Volunteer Fire Company 6 or to the West Milford Museum.