Dr. Roger W. Birkman

Dr. Roger W. Birkman, noted psychologist, was born February 1, 1919 and passed away peacefully in his sleep on the 26th of March 2014 at the age of 95. His early work on the importance of our perceptions led him to create The Birkman Method®, to found Birkman International, Inc., and to establish and endow The Birkman Foundation. “Dr. B” was the beloved patriarch of his family, his office team and his extended family of consultants and clients from all over the world.

First Lieutenant Roger W. Birkman completed 18 missions as the pilot of a B17 in WWII. When returning from his 19th mission, he was shot down, rescued by the Belgian Resistance and hidden until his liberation after D-Day. Returning to Texas after the war, he began his life-long affiliation with the First United Methodist Church in downtown Houston (which became the first church to implement The Birkman Method®). He studied psychology on the G.I. Bill and earned his master’s degree at the University of Houston in 1947. He completed a PhD at the University of Texas at Austin in 1960 and his doctoral dissertation, a “Test of Social Comprehension”, was the basis of his widely-acclaimed assessment, The Birkman Method®. In 2012, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Concordia University, Austin, Texas, and in 2013 received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Houston.

Preceded in death (2007) by his wife of 62 years, Margaret Sue Leath, he is survived by two daughters, Andrea Kay Birkman and Sharon Birkman Fink, along with her husband, Richard Paul Fink, three grandchildren, Margaret Shepley Huber and husband, Mark D. Huber, Amy Shepley Hilliard and husband, Howard Hatch Hilliard, and Alexandra Nikole Fink. He is also survived by great-granddaughter, Morgan Faith Huber and great-grandson, Declan Alexander Huber and his sisters, Vivian Birkmann Gerland, Miriam Birkmann and Florence Birkmann Hopper and brother, Gerald Birkmann.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from two o’clock until five o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 29th of March, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The memorial service and celebration of Roger W. Birkman’s inspiring life and enduring legacy, is to be conducted at three o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the 30th of March, in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 1320 Main Street at Clay, where in 1945 he married his lifelong partner, Sue. Dr. Stephen P.Wende, Senior Pastor is to officiate.

In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, please consider making a donation to one of the charities close to Dr. B’s heart: the Music and Fine Arts Ministry of First United Methodist Church, 1320 Main St., Houston, TX, 77002; The Birkman Foundation, P. O. Box 5916, Sherman Oaks, CA, 91413-5916; or to Bridges to Life, 9426 Old Katy Rd, Houston, TX, 77055.