Thomas Michael (Mike) Birmingham
Thomas Michael (Mike) Birmingham, 68, of Silverthorne passed away surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, December 13, following a valiant battle with cancer.
Birmingham was born in Bethesda, Maryland and raised in Anaheim, California before moving to his beloved Summit County in 1977 to start his family. He was first employed at Keystone as a ski repair tech and became a skilled binder for the U.S. Olympic Ski Team. He then started his career working for Henderson Mill in Empire in March of 1980. He acted as a consultant for the mine in Cerro Verde, Peru and helped reopen the Climax Mine in Leadville from which he retired March 31, 2020. He loved his work and all of his employees; they were like family to him.
When not at his actual job, Birmingham was constantly busy. His largest and most beloved project was the amazing log home he built for his family on Ptarmigan Mountain in Silverthorne in 1993. He loved flipping cars and had a new automotive project almost weekly. Never one to be sitting still, there was always something he was working on and passionate about.
Birmingham’s family said his devotion to family was beyond comparison. He is survived by his wife Pam; daughters Joy, Tara (and fiance Kyle); son Zach; grandson David; sisters Sheila (and husband Jack) Nebo of Riverside, California, and Colleen (and husband Rick) Graham of Anaheim, California; and his cherished Golden Retriever, Buddy.
Birmingham will be missed for so many reasons, his family said. He was driven, hardworking, loving, generous, quick witted and hilarious; his sense of humor was unmatched.
The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to LAPS, League for Animals and People of the Summit, in Birmingham’s honor. You can donate by going to their website, www.summitlaps.org
There will be a celebration of life announced at a later date.
