Longtime CVE Reporter Photographer Sid Birns Remembered for Preserving Village History

For many years, Sid Birns helped document the history and daily life of Century Village East through his photography, becoming one of the most recognizable and valued contributors to the CVE Reporter newspaper.

Whether it was a club meeting, community celebration, special event or holiday gathering, Birns could often be found moving quietly through the crowd with his camera, capturing moments that would later appear in the newspaper for residents throughout the village to enjoy. Over time, his work created an important visual record of life inside Century Village East, preserving memories and milestones that helped tell the story of the community for generations of residents.

Birns passed away on May 10 while in hospice care, according to a message shared by his daughter, Cyd Birns, who said she was with him shortly before his final breath.

In the heartfelt message sent to friends and family, Cyd Birns explained that there will not be a formal funeral service because many of the people who cared about her father are scattered throughout the country and many are elderly, making travel difficult. Instead, the family is planning a virtual memorial service tentatively scheduled for Aug. 7, which would have been Birns’ 101st birthday.

The memorial is expected to take place during the afternoon to accommodate friends and family members living primarily on the East Coast. Organizers also hope to record the service so it can later be shared with those unable to attend live.

Those wishing to attend the virtual memorial are asked to email Cyd Birns directly at pfment@juno.com with their name and the email address where they would like the memorial link sent. Friends and family are also invited to submit memories, stories and written tributes that can be read during the service. Those who wish to speak themselves during the memorial are also being asked to notify the family in advance so the event can remain organized.

Cyd Birns also encouraged anyone who knows friends of Sid Birns who may not have received the information to forward the memorial details to them.

A military veteran, Birns was especially proud to participate in an Honor Flight approximately 10 years ago. In her message, his daughter shared a commemorative video produced by Miami International Airport honoring the veterans who participated in the trip.

She also noted that when she returns to Florida to retrieve her father’s extensive photography archives, she plans to bring his cremated remains to a Veterans Administration cemetery in San Antonio, Texas, where she eventually plans to reside herself.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations instead be made to causes important to Birns and his family, including Vietnam Veterans organizations, Jewish War Veterans and animal rescue efforts.

The message to friends and family concluded with words written by Birns himself in one of his final papers:

“It’s been a great ride and I’ve had some happy trails and I wish from this moment on that you too will have ‘Happy Trails.’”