John Birmingham Jr., 65; lawyer bought piano maker

In 1986, when the Cold War was finally easing, John Birmingham Jr. helped an aging artist return to his homeland. At the age of 83, Vladimir Horowitz was nearing the end of his career as one of the world's most esteemed pianists, but the Ukraine-born virtuoso had not played in that part of the world for many years.

Mr. Birmingham, a Boston lawyer and businessman who had recently purchased the flagging piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons , had Mr. Horowitz's piano shipped under special protection to prevent damage. Mr. Horowitz and his Steinway arrived in perfect condition, and the pianist's Moscow concert is now remembered as one of his last triumphs.

Mr. Birmingham, a gifted lawyer and later an entrepreneur, died Feb. 24 at his home in Osterville from complications arising from multiple-system ataxia. He was 65.

Though Mr. Birmingham and his wife, Karen (Murphy) , were unable to attend Horowitz's Moscow performance, they were invited to hear the pianist's concert in the East Room of the White House soon after his return. Karen Birmingham said the concert was a bravura performance and one of her husband's fondest memories.

Born in Boston in 1941, Mr. Birmingham graduated from St. Sebastian's School and Boston College before joining the Army in 1964. He served as a military intelligence specialist for three years but soon returned to BC to earn his law degree. Mrs. Birmingham said his talent for debate and intellectual argument was apparent from the beginning, and he soon proved his worth as a litigator at the Boston law firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

Ken Novack of Boston, Mr. Birmingham's partner at the firm for 15 years, said his friend's competitive nature was a benefit in the courtroom.

"He brought his determination to win and his sharp wit every time," Novack said. "He was competitive in the best sense of the word."

The young lawyer became a partner at the firm in 1976, but seven years later chose to go into a very different business. In 1985 he and his brother Robert, of Osterville , with two other partners purchased Steinway, whose business had been declining. Over a 10-year tenure at the head of the company, the Birminghams began to hold concerts at the piano factory and oversaw the debut of the Boston Piano, a more affordable version of the company's venerable grands.

Mr. Birmingham also began commissioning work from young composers for the company.

"It came from his idea that we were getting away from polyphonic music that was melodious," said his wife of 42 years. "It gave contemporary composers the chance to prepare new music."

Mr. Birmingham played an active role at his alma mater, St. Sebastian's School in Needham, serving on its board for more than 25 years and as president for 14.

Throughout his life, Novack said, his friend of 40 years maintained a broad sense of humor, a trait on display particularly when he acquired a long, swift racing sailboat, and decided to name it Adagio, a term that in musical notation indicates a slowing tempo. Along with his interest in music, Mr. Birmingham also wrote poetry and enjoyed reading and competitive sailing.

In addition to his wife and brother, Mr. Birmingham leaves a son, J. Devin of Sherborn ; two daughters, Hilary of Los Angeles and Sarah White of Newton ; two other brothers, Paul of Palm Beach, Fla. and Mark of Freeport, Maine ; a sister, Lois Wrightson of Osterville ; three grandsons, and a granddaughter .

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville.