Charles Birnn

Charles Edward Birnn died peacefully at his home in Rossmoor on Thursday morning, June 4th. He was 85. Born in New York City in 1924, he moved to Highland Park with his parents, Julia Collymore Cummins formerly of Barbados and Charles Henry Birnn, founder of Birnn Candy. Mr. Birnn graduated from Highland Park High School in 1942. He was a well respected cellist who studied under Percy Such, served as an apprentice cellist in New York under Leon Barzini and joined the National Orchestra Association. In the late 1940's and 50's, Mr. Birnn performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under Fritz Reiner and with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra under George Szell. In 1953, he moved back to Lawrence Avenue in Highland Park and joined his father in the family business, Birnn Candies in Highland Park (Now known as Birnn Chocolates) where he opened 13 Birnn Candy stores in NJ, NY and PA. He was an active member of the Rotary Club, a Free Mason and served on the board of First Savings and Loan in New Brunswick. In 1965, he retired from the chocolate business and devoted himself to teaching and playing the cello performing frequently with well known performers at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. He is survived by his wife, Dorothea Jane Birnn, his elder son, Harold Jeffrey Birnn and his wife, Jane and their daughter, Julia of Burlington, VT, his younger son, William Mauger Birnn and his wife, Janet, also of Burlington, VT, his daughter, Don Andrea Cunnell, her husband, John and their sons, Charles and Philip. Calling hours will be held from 2-5 p.m. Sunday June 7th at the Jaqui-Kuhn Funeral Home, 17 South Adelaide Avenue, Highland Park. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Rossmoor Meeting House.
 Born: April 27, 1924 Place of Birth: New York, NY Death: June 4, 2009 Place of Death: Residence - Monroe Twp., N.J. Occupation: Birnn Chocolates - Cellist D. Jane Birnn, Spouse Harold Jeffrey Birnn & Jane, Son and daughter-in-law William Mauger Birnn & Janet, Son and daughter-in-law Don Andrea Cunnell & John, Daughter and son-in-law Julia Birnn, Grand-daughter Charles Cunnell, Grand-son Philip Cunnell, Grand-son

Memorial Service

Monday June 8, 2009 , 11:00 a.m. at Rossmoor Meeting House

Calling Hours: 2-5 p.m. Sunday June 7th Share your thoughts and memories in the guestbook.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Charles Birnn, please visit our floral store.