Francis Birkmeyer

Francis M. Birkmeyer, of Bennington, passed away on February 20, 2024. Francis, known as “Frank” or “Grandpa Frankie,” was born to Paul and Sarah Birkmeyer, in Brooklyn, New York in 1934. Frank fondly remembered his time at Xavier High School in New York City and Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City, New Jersey. Frank’s profession was teaching, and he started at St. Cecilia’s High School, in Englewood, New Jersey, where he met and fell in love with fellow teacher, Marilyn “Mimi” Bryan. Frank served in the U.S. Army as a trainer for two years. He married his beloved Mimi in 1958 and they relocated to Laurel, Maryland, where their first of four daughters was born. Frank returned to teaching German and Latin at Boonton High School and then transferred to Morris Knolls where he taught and then served as a guidance counselor for two decades. He and Marilyn raised their family in Parsippany, New Jersey. While working at Morris Knolls High School, Frank later earned a Masters Degree in Counseling from Montclair State College. Frank had a passion for the outdoors, and was a weather buff, accurately predicting weather by studying the clouds. He and Marilyn loved visiting Vermont for its beauty and range of weather and retired to Bennington in 1995. They spent many happy years enjoying their view of Mt. Anthony and exploring southern Vermont. Up until his late eighties, he could be found in all sorts weather, walking his ten miles a day on the roads of Bennington. A generally shy man, he had a friendly wave for all passersby and would often be recognized in the grocery store or the post office by others as “the walker.” Frank is survived by his wife, Marilyn and four daughters: Laura (husband Steve), Lynne (husband Marcus), Lisa, and Stefanie (husband Greg). He delighted in his four grandchildren: Christopher Sayre, Cole Untiedt and Morgan and Kailyn Sanford. He is also survived by his brother, Paul, Jr., and his wife Shirley and their four sons. Frank was predeceased by his brother, John, and their parents. Frank’s family welcomes you to a funeral mass which will be celebrated at Sacred Heart/St. Francis de Sales Church in Bennington on Friday, February 23, 2024, at 2 p.m. If friends desire, contributions in Frank’s name may be made to the Bennington Rescue Squad through the office of the Mahar Funeral Home 628 Main Street Bennington, VT 05201.