Rev. Carl Bierman

ALBANY – Rev. Carl Bierman, 79, of Albany, died Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at the Albany Medical Center Hospital.  Rev. Bierman was born in Hannover, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1935.  He was raised in the Bronx, attended Columbia University, and earned a bachelor’s degree from the City College of New York.  He then earned a Masters of Divinity from the Harvard Divinity School.  He served for many years as a Unitarian minister at churches in Kennebunk, ME, Trenton, NJ, Washington Crossing, NJ, Springfield, MO, and Woodstock, VT.  He oversaw the construction of the churches in Washington Crossing, NJ, and Springfield, MO.  He also taught in the religion department of Missouri State University at Springfield, MO, was a member of the Torch Club of Trenton, NJ, and was active in the civil rights movement, traveling to Montgomery, AL, and to Martin Luther King’s march on Washington, DC.

Rev. Bierman is survived by his wife Dolores Hart Bierman; his daughters Natalie Opitz (Charlie) of Springfield, MO, Daphne McKinney of Yucaipa, CA, and Sally Diggins (Patrick) of Hoover, AL; his son Andrew Bierman (Jill) of Albany; and his grandchildren Marcus, Tara, Nicholas and Matthew Opitz, Malcolm, Alec and David McKinney, Patrick Diggins, IV, Zachary and Henry Diggins, and Katherine and Nathan Bierman.

Funeral services were held privately at the convenience of the family, with interment in Albany Rural Cemetery.  Arrangements were entrusted to the Hans Funeral Home, Albany.  To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.