Remembering John Birchfield

Published on Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Written by The Editors

Birchfield had a long and distinguished career in foodservice.

John Birchfield, founder and principal of Birchfield Consulting Systems, passed away on Dec. 29. He was 82 years old.

Birchfield's diverse and distinguished foodservice career includes serving as a professor in the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management at Michigan State University and as vice president of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. In addition to his operational experience in hotels, clubs, restaurants, and colleges, Birchfield won the International Foodservice Manufacturer's Association Silver Plate Award as Foodservice Operator of the year in 1973. He is a past-president of the National Association of College and University Food Services and was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by that association in 1973. He also served as the president of Foodservice Consultant Society International.

A veteran of the Korean War, Birchfield is survived by his wife, Josalee; daughters Judith and Janis; son John and many other loving family members.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to: The Sierra Club or Feeding America.