Dr. Harold Stanley Roy Byrdy

Harold Stanley Roy Byrdy, MD died Tuesday, March 21 at the Community Living Center at the Edward P. Boland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Leeds, MA, after a valiant struggle against the effects of Agent Orange and lately, Covid. Harold was born in Pittsfield, on May 30, 1936, to Louis S. and Helen Miszczak Byrdy. He and his sister and brothers grew up in an atmosphere of music, intellectual stimulation and artistic creativity. Harold, throughout his life played the harp, piano and violin he learned as a child and never passed up an opportunity to sing, whether classical, Polish or Broadway show tunes. He was an erudite, sharply witty, intelligent, often playful man, who could converse on a seemingly endless variety of topics. Harold graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1953, Williams College in 1957 and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1961. He interned at the hospitals & clinics of the University of Chicago and completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. In fulfillment of his obligations to the Berry Plan, Captain Byrdy was the Medical Corps, US Army Division psychiatrist with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) from August 1965 to June 1966. He was later assigned to the Psychiatric Section at Valley Forge Army Hospital from 1966-1967. Upon his return to civilian life, Dr Byrdy practiced at the Penn Psychiatric Service at Philadelphia General Hospital from 1967-1975. From 1978-2003, he was a Senior Staff Psychiatrist at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT. During that time, he was Chief of Adult Psychiatric Service from 1979-1998. Harold met Paula Coughlin in German Class at Pittsfield High School in 1952. They married on June 17, 1978 at Sacred Heart Church in Pittsfield and continued their travels until Harold’s infirmity constricted their life. They never missed a high school or class reunion, family or friend’s wedding, birthday, or any other celebration. Their passports were stamped on five of the seven continents where they skied, hiked and reveled in new experiences. They travelled far and wide in their quest to experience culturally significant events. He and Paula loved opera, theater, books and classical music. They especially enjoyed hosting parties at their homes, first in Wilton, Ct and, for the last decade, in Lanesboro, MA. Their family relished summer picnics, by the pool, at their home on Prospect St. Harold maintained decades-long friendships and correspondence with his classmates from college and medical school, the military and his professional colleagues. Harold is survived his devoted wife, Paula, his sister Doris Albrecht of Pittsfield, and his nephews Edward L Byrdy, Jr (Crystie) of Olney, MD and Christopher B Byrdy (Mary Beth) of Haymarket, VA, his great nephews Edward III, Michael, Matthew and Andrew, and his great nieces, Kaitlyn and Charlotte. He also leaves his sister-in-law, Mary O’Brien (Robert) of Lenox and dozens of 3 generations of Coughlin, White and O’Brien nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his brothers, Ervin T (Helen) and Edward L, Sr (Anne) and his nephew, Kitson Byrdy. Harold’s family regrets that no words can fully convey our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the wonderful, conscientious, professional care he received from the CLC in Leeds. Everyone there, the medical staff, the social workers and the support staff, performed acts of kindness on a regular basis and reinforced our belief that the importance of Harold’s military service was respected to his final days. Funeral Notice: Funeral services for Dr. Harold Stanley Roy Byrdy will be private. Memorial contributions in Harold’s name may be made to the Disabled American Veterans in care of the Dwyer-Wellington Funeral Home.

Dr. Harold Stanley Roy Byrdy

May 30, 1936 - March 21, 2023