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Birdwell, Lloyd W.

March 12, 1943 –
 January 9, 2014

Obituary

Lloyd Willis Birdwell, Jr., 70, a lifelong resident of Dallas, Texas, died in the early hours of January 9, 2014, comforted by his closest friends and beloved dog, Gus. Lloyd was a polymath, an immensely talented, utterly hilarious man who brought tremendous joy and delight to all who knew him. After an early obsession with performing magic shows and graduation from St. Marks’ Preparatory School in Dallas, Lloyd attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, before transferring to the University of Texas in Austin.  That was when the real magic began: Lloyd, a student of English literature, was inspired to put on a birthday party for Eeyore, the often-depressed donkey in A.A. Milne’s “Winnie-the-Pooh” stories. The April 1963 event in Austin’s Eastwoods Park featured a maypole and donkey bedecked with flowers, honey sandwiches, and a garbage can of lemonade, with Lloyd, in a magician’s cape with wand and top hat, orchestrating the festivities. Eeyore’s Birthday Party is now an annual cultural event in Austin with thousands of attendees.   Lloyd was delighted to attend the 50th celebration in April 2013, wearing, of course, his trademark magician’s outfit. After graduating from UT in 1967 with a Master’s Degree in English, Lloyd returned home to work for the Dallas Civic Opera, and two years later, moved to New York City, where he worked on events planning in the City Parks and Recreation Department. A birthday for Eeyore in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park and an all-night party in Central Park celebrating the first man-on-the-moon landing were among his early festivals. Although his enthusiasm for planning pageants and performing never waned (he loved playing the piano, singing show tunes, and attending the Metropolitan Opera and Broadway and Off Broadway theater), he began to focus his creative talents on playwriting.  His plays ranged from musicals, like “The Magical Mayan Musical Murder Mysteries,” to comedies and serious drama. Lloyd also wrote and produced a documentary, “Cecilia,” about an eponymous homeless autograph hound. In addition to Dallas, Lloyd had homes in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Kansas City, Missouri, and traveled extensively. Trips to exotic locales sparked a latent interest in photography, and Lloyd’s work was exhibited in galleries in Dallas, New York City, and Durango, Colorado. Unfortunately, his diagnosis of liver cancer curtailed travel until a life-saving liver transplant in 2010. His first post-surgery trip was to India (after telling his doctors he was going to Indiana; “only two additional letters,” he said), and he later went to Africa and little-visited Bhutan, where he photographed people and animals, landscapes and lifestyles. That work, along with his portfolio of Christo’s Gates in Central Park, was exhibited in his show, “Color in a World of Black and White,” last March in Fort Worth. A selection of Lloyd’s work can be seen on-line. In late spring, a “going away” party in his honor will held in Dallas. In a black-and-white world, Lloyd will forever be epitomized by color. Memorial donations may be made to: St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church of Dallas; Baylor All Saints Health Foundation- Ft. Worth; Baylor Health Care Foundation-Dallas; or the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are under the direction of:
ARIA Cremation Service & Funeral Home
10116 E. NW Highway
Dallas, Texas 75238
214.340.8008

    Melissa, Dave, and Cooper
    19 Jan 2014
    12:41pm

    Lloyd, you have left many grieving friends behind. You were truly the most interesting man in the world, and made a huge impact on my life! We will miss you every single day.

    Love,
    Melissa, Dave, and Cooper Radoe

    Ellen Amirkhan
    3 Feb 2014
    10:47am

    We always enjoyed taking care of Mr. Birdwell’s rugs. His cheerful demeanor always put a smile on our face and made us laugh. He was a kind and gentle soul. We will miss him.

    Ellen Amirkhan

    Bob and Melinda Penn
    3 Feb 2014
    8:41pm

    Lloyd was a delight. What an interesting life he had. He brought joy to us long ago during our UT days and we wish our paths had crossed in later years. Rest in peace, dear Lloyd. From Bob and Melinda

    Will Watson
    3 Feb 2014
    9:42pm

    I met Lloyd through friends in the 1970s. We were all so young then! Lloyd was so inventive and creative and lots of fun. I’m happy to read in his obit that he stayed that way throughout his life. I’m sure his “magic spells” will stay with us all.

    Danny Wesley Ray
    14 Feb 2014
    9:58am

    I worked closely with Lloyd on a musical that he loved writing. We got everything into score form, had a workshop with singers for each of the parts and chorus. It was much fun, and I thought it had legs. I hope it hasn’t slipped off the radar. I will miss seeing Lloyd at the Market Diner on Harry Hines for breakfast. Much love, Lloyd, and thank you.

    john gowan
    19 Feb 2014
    12:32pm

    Lloyd was a good guy at St Marks . Ran into him in Taos when he heard me speaking (what an ear to pick that up) . Yeh too bad . He was always happy . Goodbye to you Lloyd

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