Louise Birkhead

Louise Gartner Birkhead, a passionate activist in the Syracuse, N.Y. community who dedicated her career to public service, passed peacefully surrounded by the love of her family on Monday July 13 in Slingerlands, NY at the age of 97.

She leaves a legacy of love and devotion to family and community, and enduring memories of her hallmarks of warmth, laughter, and empathy for those whose lives she touched.

Since 2020, she resided at the Beverwyck Independent Living and the Eddy Village Green at Beverwyck. The family would particularly like to thank the Eddy Village Green staff for their outstanding, compassionate care.

Born in Needham, Mass., Louise graduated from Oberlin College in 1951 and earned her Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University's Maxwell School in 1952. One of only two women in her MPA program, she devoted her career to public service and helped pave the way for women in government.

While at Syracuse, she met her husband, Guthrie Sweeney Birkhead, Jr. They married in 1952, settled in Syracuse, and built the family that Louise considered her greatest accomplishment. Her three sons were her greatest joy and life's foundation.

Louise served the City of Syracuse, municipal organizations, and elected officials in leadership roles, including Director of the Office of Federal and State Aid Coordination for the City of Syracuse and Director of Constituent Services for a New York State Senator. She also dedicated countless hours to civic, educational, cultural, and environmental organizations throughout Central New York.

In 2022, she established the Louise Gartner Birkhead MPA Class of 1952 Scholarship at the Maxwell School with the intent to help young women from diverse backgrounds pursue careers in public service.

She is survived by her three sons: Dr. Guthrie Sweeney Birkhead III and daughter-in-law Susan Freisem Birkhead of Delmar, N.Y.; Dr. Richard Gartner Birkhead and daughter-in-law Jean-Marie Birkhead of Tuftonboro, N.H., and Evan Clark Birkhead and daughter-in-law Wendy Birkhead of Jackson, N.J. Her family legacy includes eight grandchildren and step-grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, with three more great-grandchildren on the way.

Contributions may be made in her name to the Thousand Islands Land Trust [https://www.tilandtrust.org/] or the Louise Gartner Birkhead MPA Class of 1952 Scholarship fund at Syracuse University [https://givetosu.syr.edu/LBirkhead].