Nina Bird

Nina Louise Dufield Young Bird, age 87, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026 in Columbia, Maryland.

Born on April 10, 1939, in Willimantic, Connecticut, Nina was the daughter of Dana and Louise Young and the older sister of Candace Young. The daughter of an engineering professor, she demonstrated a love for learning from an early age. She attended The Day School in New Haven, Connecticut, where she graduated in 1957 and served as Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper, The Day Star. She went on to attend Smith College, earning her degree in political science in 1961.

In October 1964, Nina married James Collishaw Bird in London, beginning a lifelong partnership rooted in shared values and appreciation for the world around them.

Nina is lovingly remembered by her sister and her children: Ian Bird and his spouse, Caroline; Alison Punsalan and her spouse, Mike; and Katrina Gordon and her spouse, Chuck. She was a devoted grandmother to Ryan and Ben Punsalan, Astrid and Olivia Bird, and Bryson and Alexandra Gordon, each of whom brought her immense pride and joy.

Nina worked a variety of office roles in San Antonio, Texas; Washington, D.C.; and London, England, but she would say that her greatest accomplishment was raising three loving children. Nina lived by a set of heartfelt principles that shaped her daily life. She believed in baking cookies rather than buying them, choosing quality over quantity, and always using a coaster. She delighted in good wine and cheese, and was known to cry openly at movies, television shows, and the news. She took great joy in reading to her children and grandchildren, fostering in them a lifelong love of stories and learning.

Nina valued staying connected and took the time to write thoughtful thank-you notes and maintain meaningful relationships with friends and family. She had a keen interest in following politics and world events, being an avid reader of the daily newspaper even to the end. She found comfort and enjoyment in watching British dramas and could spend hours wandering through art museums.

Nina will be remembered for her warmth, intellect, sense of tradition, and unwavering love for her family. Her final resting place will be next to her husband, Hamish, in Suffolk, England.

She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.