Shirley Hasler Bird, formerly a 43-year resident of New Canaan, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2017 in her residence at Meadow Ridge in Redding, Connecticut. Shirley was born to Frederick and Marjorie Hasler in Little Silver, New Jersey on July 16, 1918. She spent her childhood there, as well as in New York City, Bermuda, and in Washington, Connecticut -- where in 1944 she met and married her husband Howard Bird, Jr. (1916 – 2000). Shirley and Howard went on to live and raise a family in Medellín, Colombia and Mexico City, before moving to New Canaan in 1956. The family also lived for several years in Geneva, Switzerland. Shirley attended Rumson Country Day School in New Jersey, Bermuda High School, and Wykeham Rise Girls School in Washington, Connecticut. She was both a talented artist and an enthusiastic thespian, having attended the Clayton Rollins School of Acting on Long Island and the New York School of the Theater, as well as the Stockbridge Playhouse Theater in Massachusetts. Her love of the theater continued throughout her life. In the early 1940s she joined the Junior League of New York City, where she helped produce theatrical performances for the city’s schoolchildren. In New Canaan, she served for many years on the board of governors of the New Canaan Historical Society, continuing since as an honorary member of the board. A flower garden there is named for her. Her skills at flower arranging earned her many awards and a long tenure on the Altar Guild at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Canaan. Shirley is survived by her four children, Frederick of Seattle, Washington; Norman (Diane) of Barkhamstead, Connecticut; Michael (Colleen) of New Milford, Connecticut; Susan Massey (Gary) of Westbrook, Maine; and grandsons Alden Bird (Kelly Swindlehurst) of Littleton, New Hampshire and Hayden Bird of Boston, Massachusetts. She was preceded death by her husband Howard Bird, Jr., her grandson Samuel Bird, and her sisters Audrey Chesney and Marjory Ewing. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 15 at 11am, in the Chapel at Meadow Ridge, 100 Redding Road, Redding, Connecticut. A reception will follow. A graveside service will be held at 3pm at the Washington Green Cemetery in Washington, Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the New Canaan Historical Society.