"Your call to us
Means a heap
So leave a message
After the beep."
- Ed, on the family answering machine
It's rather rare for a gent to have as fine a mind as Ed's in the same person as a very warm heart, but he was that special kind of man.
When my parents were first married, they lived in an apartment in downtown Allentown on Ninth street. Next door lived another newlywed couple, the Baldriges. The two couples would become good friends, sharing card games and beer. Time and life made them best friends.
It was as though by becoming friends with the Baldriges, my parents had found mirrors of themselves in character. My father was not nearly as scholarly as Ed, but they had the same light heart and ability to laugh at human frailty, especially their own. Likewise, Georgia, called Geege, was virtually my mom's spirtual twin - petite, brunette, upbeat and energetic. How close were they? The Baldriges were the first friends of my parents that my folks took me to as an infant. Later, they became my godparents, slated to raise me if, heaven forbid, anything ever had happened to my folks. Would I have done well raised in a household with three boys, led by sweet Aunt Geege and jovial Uncle Ed, a professor of history? Oh, yes.
Through the years, I recall family cookouts with "the Baldies", learning to play croquet in their backyard while steaks were on the grill and Budweiser in the cooler. I have no guesses how many New Years Eves they and my folks spent together, but they were part of the "New Year's Eve Gang" that consisted also of Fred and Mary Jane Mahler, Bob and Adrienne Ehle, and Jane and Dave Seamans.
Ed, a popular and learned man, knew everyone and I benefitted from that. His many connections were formed by his social nature, coupled with his work at Muhlenberg College and the historical society. When one of his students was popular local deejay Guy Randall Ackley, with whom I'd had a long-standing phone friendship, Ed invited me to his annual student picnic to meet Guy personally. After my first year of college, Ed got me a summer internship at the historical society, where I went through every book in the library there and created a card catalogue of all the maps. It was during that time I had the pleasure of reporting to Nancy Allen, but more importantly the experience sealed my love of history and people and things of old. Leafing through rare books and flipping through boxes of antique postcards offerred a sense of stewardship that bordered on holy, and I have Ed to thank for that.
Ed's social nature also made him my sitting duck. In high school when I sang with the Allen Chorale, we once performed for a group of which he was a member. One of the solos I had required me at each performance to choose a male audience member, sidle over and gently "vamp" him. Knowing how Ed was known and viewed, it was natural to take advantage of his good nature and make him my "victim", and we had fun when I surprised him by plopping myself on his lap and playing with his hair, surrounded by rousing cheers and laughter.
Gracious? Absolutely. I remember when I was a child, he once came to visit my dad, and knowing his love of beer, I offered to get him one. I got down one of the glasses my folks used for beer, opened a bottle, generously loaded the glass with ice and poured, and presented him with it. Apologetically, my dad explained to me in front of Uncle Ed that one doesn't serve beer with ice, but Ed cut in "No, no, I like it cold" and that was that.
Ed's eldest son, speaking for all the boys, recounted at Ed's memorial service that Ed had been a passenger on a May 5, 1972 flight that had been hijacked. After the plane went through Dulles and other points on the way, the hijacker, Frederick Hahneman, got $303,000 in ransom money and bailed out over Honduras. It was recalled that Ed was not displeased by the free drinks offered by the airline during the drama.
There are other personal reflections to record, but for now this is what I can manage. Ed will be very missed. God bless you, Uncle Ed.
_____
Flags are flying at half-staff over Muhlenberg College and the world is a little less bright and funny with the passing of Dr. Edwin R. Baldrige, Jr., 83, of Luther Crest Retirement Community, South Whitehall Twp. Ed died peacefully on Friday, January 10, 2014, in the Luther Crest Health Care Center, surrounded by family. He was the beloved husband of Georgia (Wright) Baldrige, with whom he celebrated 61 years of marriage on August 30, 2013. Born in Hollidaysburg, he was the son of the late Edwin R. and Marion (Trexler) Baldrige. Dr. Baldrige was a generous and kind man with a gifted sense of humor. He welcomed all he saw with a warm smile and a quick joke. His humor, optimism, and assortment of tricks and sayings live on through his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family, colleagues, students, and many friends, but his legacy will endure. A graduate of the Haverford School for Boys, Ed continued his education at Dartmouth College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1952. He received his Master of Arts Degree and Ph.D. in 1954 and 1963, respectively, from Lehigh University. An Army veteran, Ed served his country in Germany from 1955 to 1957. After he arrived home from the service, Ed began his teaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he served as Professor of History for 40 years until he retired in 1997. He was a charter member of the Faculty Club and served as its president from 1966 to 1982. Dedicated to education, Ed served on the Parkland School Board from 1970 to 1982 and was a former President. A member of the Lehigh County Historical Society, he served on the Board and as President of the organization. He served on the Board of the Institute for Learning in Retirement and taught there for several years after his own retirement. He was a former member of the Allentown Housing Authority and a longtime member of the Allentown Kiwanis Club and Contemporary Club. He was also a member and former Elder and Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. Ed was recognized with scores of honors throughout his life, including: the inaugural Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Distinguished Service Professor; the Alumni Associations award for Distinguished and Exceptional Service to the College; and the Trustees Award for Continuing Service to the College. Survivors: Wife; sons, Edwin R. Baldrige III and his wife, Lydia Panas, of Kutztown, Thomas T. Baldrige and his wife, Susan, of Lancaster, Christopher W. Baldrige and his partner, David Skerpon, of Harrisburg; grandchildren, Jordan and his wife, Kay, Holland, Lukas, Elias, Anastassia, Liam; great-grandchildren, Keegan and Ellie. Services: Memorial service 11 a.m., Saturday, in the Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, 3231 W. Tilghman St., Allentown. Call 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, in the church. Arrangements by J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown, www.jsburkholder.com. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Muhlenberg College, in memory of Edwin R. Baldrige, Jr., Attn. Development Office, Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18104; Meals On Wheels of Lehigh County, 4234 Dorney Park Road, Allentown, PA 18104; or the Alzheimer's Association, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
_____
From Dartmouth Alumni Magazine:
Edwin Rockefeller Baldrige Jr. '52
JUL - AUG 2014
Edwin Rockefeller Baldrige Jr. '52, M.D., died on January 10, 2014, in the Luther Crest Health Care Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He was born in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the Haverford School for Boys in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Ed received his bachelor of arts from Dartmouth in 1952 with a major in history with distinction and was a member of Gamma Delta Chi. He was also awarded the Grimes Prize For General Improvement at graduation. He received his master of arts degree and Ph.D. in 1954 and 1963, respectively, from Lehigh University. A U.S. Army veteran, he served his country in Germany from 1955 to 1957. After the service he began his teaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he served as professor of history for 40 years until he retired in 1997. He was a charter member of the faculty club and served as its president from 1966 to 1982. Dedicated to education, he served on the Parkland school board from 1970 to 1982 and was a former president. Ed was active in a number of community organizations and was recognized with scores of honors throughout his life, including the inaugural Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Distinguished Service Professor, the alumni association's Award for Distinguished and Exceptional Service to the College and the trustees' Award for Continuing Service to the College. He was the beloved husband of Georgia, with whom he celebrated 61 years of marriage on August 30, 2013. Surviving are his wife, sons Edwin III, Thomas and Christopher, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Means a heap
So leave a message
After the beep."
- Ed, on the family answering machine
It's rather rare for a gent to have as fine a mind as Ed's in the same person as a very warm heart, but he was that special kind of man.
When my parents were first married, they lived in an apartment in downtown Allentown on Ninth street. Next door lived another newlywed couple, the Baldriges. The two couples would become good friends, sharing card games and beer. Time and life made them best friends.
It was as though by becoming friends with the Baldriges, my parents had found mirrors of themselves in character. My father was not nearly as scholarly as Ed, but they had the same light heart and ability to laugh at human frailty, especially their own. Likewise, Georgia, called Geege, was virtually my mom's spirtual twin - petite, brunette, upbeat and energetic. How close were they? The Baldriges were the first friends of my parents that my folks took me to as an infant. Later, they became my godparents, slated to raise me if, heaven forbid, anything ever had happened to my folks. Would I have done well raised in a household with three boys, led by sweet Aunt Geege and jovial Uncle Ed, a professor of history? Oh, yes.
Through the years, I recall family cookouts with "the Baldies", learning to play croquet in their backyard while steaks were on the grill and Budweiser in the cooler. I have no guesses how many New Years Eves they and my folks spent together, but they were part of the "New Year's Eve Gang" that consisted also of Fred and Mary Jane Mahler, Bob and Adrienne Ehle, and Jane and Dave Seamans.
Ed, a popular and learned man, knew everyone and I benefitted from that. His many connections were formed by his social nature, coupled with his work at Muhlenberg College and the historical society. When one of his students was popular local deejay Guy Randall Ackley, with whom I'd had a long-standing phone friendship, Ed invited me to his annual student picnic to meet Guy personally. After my first year of college, Ed got me a summer internship at the historical society, where I went through every book in the library there and created a card catalogue of all the maps. It was during that time I had the pleasure of reporting to Nancy Allen, but more importantly the experience sealed my love of history and people and things of old. Leafing through rare books and flipping through boxes of antique postcards offerred a sense of stewardship that bordered on holy, and I have Ed to thank for that.
Ed's social nature also made him my sitting duck. In high school when I sang with the Allen Chorale, we once performed for a group of which he was a member. One of the solos I had required me at each performance to choose a male audience member, sidle over and gently "vamp" him. Knowing how Ed was known and viewed, it was natural to take advantage of his good nature and make him my "victim", and we had fun when I surprised him by plopping myself on his lap and playing with his hair, surrounded by rousing cheers and laughter.
Gracious? Absolutely. I remember when I was a child, he once came to visit my dad, and knowing his love of beer, I offered to get him one. I got down one of the glasses my folks used for beer, opened a bottle, generously loaded the glass with ice and poured, and presented him with it. Apologetically, my dad explained to me in front of Uncle Ed that one doesn't serve beer with ice, but Ed cut in "No, no, I like it cold" and that was that.
Ed's eldest son, speaking for all the boys, recounted at Ed's memorial service that Ed had been a passenger on a May 5, 1972 flight that had been hijacked. After the plane went through Dulles and other points on the way, the hijacker, Frederick Hahneman, got $303,000 in ransom money and bailed out over Honduras. It was recalled that Ed was not displeased by the free drinks offered by the airline during the drama.
There are other personal reflections to record, but for now this is what I can manage. Ed will be very missed. God bless you, Uncle Ed.
_____
Flags are flying at half-staff over Muhlenberg College and the world is a little less bright and funny with the passing of Dr. Edwin R. Baldrige, Jr., 83, of Luther Crest Retirement Community, South Whitehall Twp. Ed died peacefully on Friday, January 10, 2014, in the Luther Crest Health Care Center, surrounded by family. He was the beloved husband of Georgia (Wright) Baldrige, with whom he celebrated 61 years of marriage on August 30, 2013. Born in Hollidaysburg, he was the son of the late Edwin R. and Marion (Trexler) Baldrige. Dr. Baldrige was a generous and kind man with a gifted sense of humor. He welcomed all he saw with a warm smile and a quick joke. His humor, optimism, and assortment of tricks and sayings live on through his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family, colleagues, students, and many friends, but his legacy will endure. A graduate of the Haverford School for Boys, Ed continued his education at Dartmouth College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1952. He received his Master of Arts Degree and Ph.D. in 1954 and 1963, respectively, from Lehigh University. An Army veteran, Ed served his country in Germany from 1955 to 1957. After he arrived home from the service, Ed began his teaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he served as Professor of History for 40 years until he retired in 1997. He was a charter member of the Faculty Club and served as its president from 1966 to 1982. Dedicated to education, Ed served on the Parkland School Board from 1970 to 1982 and was a former President. A member of the Lehigh County Historical Society, he served on the Board and as President of the organization. He served on the Board of the Institute for Learning in Retirement and taught there for several years after his own retirement. He was a former member of the Allentown Housing Authority and a longtime member of the Allentown Kiwanis Club and Contemporary Club. He was also a member and former Elder and Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. Ed was recognized with scores of honors throughout his life, including: the inaugural Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Distinguished Service Professor; the Alumni Associations award for Distinguished and Exceptional Service to the College; and the Trustees Award for Continuing Service to the College. Survivors: Wife; sons, Edwin R. Baldrige III and his wife, Lydia Panas, of Kutztown, Thomas T. Baldrige and his wife, Susan, of Lancaster, Christopher W. Baldrige and his partner, David Skerpon, of Harrisburg; grandchildren, Jordan and his wife, Kay, Holland, Lukas, Elias, Anastassia, Liam; great-grandchildren, Keegan and Ellie. Services: Memorial service 11 a.m., Saturday, in the Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, 3231 W. Tilghman St., Allentown. Call 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, in the church. Arrangements by J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown, www.jsburkholder.com. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Muhlenberg College, in memory of Edwin R. Baldrige, Jr., Attn. Development Office, Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18104; Meals On Wheels of Lehigh County, 4234 Dorney Park Road, Allentown, PA 18104; or the Alzheimer's Association, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
_____
From Dartmouth Alumni Magazine:
Edwin Rockefeller Baldrige Jr. '52
JUL - AUG 2014
Edwin Rockefeller Baldrige Jr. '52, M.D., died on January 10, 2014, in the Luther Crest Health Care Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He was born in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the Haverford School for Boys in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Ed received his bachelor of arts from Dartmouth in 1952 with a major in history with distinction and was a member of Gamma Delta Chi. He was also awarded the Grimes Prize For General Improvement at graduation. He received his master of arts degree and Ph.D. in 1954 and 1963, respectively, from Lehigh University. A U.S. Army veteran, he served his country in Germany from 1955 to 1957. After the service he began his teaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he served as professor of history for 40 years until he retired in 1997. He was a charter member of the faculty club and served as its president from 1966 to 1982. Dedicated to education, he served on the Parkland school board from 1970 to 1982 and was a former president. Ed was active in a number of community organizations and was recognized with scores of honors throughout his life, including the inaugural Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Distinguished Service Professor, the alumni association's Award for Distinguished and Exceptional Service to the College and the trustees' Award for Continuing Service to the College. He was the beloved husband of Georgia, with whom he celebrated 61 years of marriage on August 30, 2013. Surviving are his wife, sons Edwin III, Thomas and Christopher, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
"Your call to us
Means a heap
So leave a message
After the beep."
- Ed, on the family answering machine
It's rather rare for a gent to have as fine a mind as Ed's in the same person as a very warm heart, but he was that special kind of man.
When my parents were first married, they lived in an apartment in downtown Allentown on Ninth street. Next door lived another newlywed couple, the Baldriges. The two couples would become good friends, sharing card games and beer. Time and life made them best friends.
It was as though by becoming friends with the Baldriges, my parents had found mirrors of themselves in character. My father was not nearly as scholarly as Ed, but they had the same light heart and ability to laugh at human frailty, especially their own. Likewise, Georgia, called Geege, was virtually my mom's spirtual twin - petite, brunette, upbeat and energetic. How close were they? The Baldriges were the first friends of my parents that my folks took me to as an infant. Later, they became my godparents, slated to raise me if, heaven forbid, anything ever had happened to my folks. Would I have done well raised in a household with three boys, led by sweet Aunt Geege and jovial Uncle Ed, a professor of history? Oh, yes.
Through the years, I recall family cookouts with "the Baldies", learning to play croquet in their backyard while steaks were on the grill and Budweiser in the cooler. I have no guesses how many New Years Eves they and my folks spent together, but they were part of the "New Year's Eve Gang" that consisted also of Fred and Mary Jane Mahler, Bob and Adrienne Ehle, and Jane and Dave Seamans.
Ed, a popular and learned man, knew everyone and I benefitted from that. His many connections were formed by his social nature, coupled with his work at Muhlenberg College and the historical society. When one of his students was popular local deejay Guy Randall Ackley, with whom I'd had a long-standing phone friendship, Ed invited me to his annual student picnic to meet Guy personally. After my first year of college, Ed got me a summer internship at the historical society, where I went through every book in the library there and created a card catalogue of all the maps. It was during that time I had the pleasure of reporting to Nancy Allen, but more importantly the experience sealed my love of history and people and things of old. Leafing through rare books and flipping through boxes of antique postcards offerred a sense of stewardship that bordered on holy, and I have Ed to thank for that.
Ed's social nature also made him my sitting duck. In high school when I sang with the Allen Chorale, we once performed for a group of which he was a member. One of the solos I had required me at each performance to choose a male audience member, sidle over and gently "vamp" him. Knowing how Ed was known and viewed, it was natural to take advantage of his good nature and make him my "victim", and we had fun when I surprised him by plopping myself on his lap and playing with his hair, surrounded by rousing cheers and laughter.
Gracious? Absolutely. I remember when I was a child, he once came to visit my dad, and knowing his love of beer, I offered to get him one. I got down one of the glasses my folks used for beer, opened a bottle, generously loaded the glass with ice and poured, and presented him with it. Apologetically, my dad explained to me in front of Uncle Ed that one doesn't serve beer with ice, but Ed cut in "No, no, I like it cold" and that was that.
Ed's eldest son, speaking for all the boys, recounted at Ed's memorial service that Ed had been a passenger on a May 5, 1972 flight that had been hijacked. After the plane went through Dulles and other points on the way, the hijacker, Frederick Hahneman, got $303,000 in ransom money and bailed out over Honduras. It was recalled that Ed was not displeased by the free drinks offered by the airline during the drama.
There are other personal reflections to record, but for now this is what I can manage. Ed will be very missed. God bless you, Uncle Ed.
_____
Flags are flying at half-staff over Muhlenberg College and the world is a little less bright and funny with the passing of Dr. Edwin R. Baldrige, Jr., 83, of Luther Crest Retirement Community, South Whitehall Twp. Ed died peacefully on Friday, January 10, 2014, in the Luther Crest Health Care Center, surrounded by family. He was the beloved husband of Georgia (Wright) Baldrige, with whom he celebrated 61 years of marriage on August 30, 2013. Born in Hollidaysburg, he was the son of the late Edwin R. and Marion (Trexler) Baldrige. Dr. Baldrige was a generous and kind man with a gifted sense of humor. He welcomed all he saw with a warm smile and a quick joke. His humor, optimism, and assortment of tricks and sayings live on through his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family, colleagues, students, and many friends, but his legacy will endure. A graduate of the Haverford School for Boys, Ed continued his education at Dartmouth College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1952. He received his Master of Arts Degree and Ph.D. in 1954 and 1963, respectively, from Lehigh University. An Army veteran, Ed served his country in Germany from 1955 to 1957. After he arrived home from the service, Ed began his teaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he served as Professor of History for 40 years until he retired in 1997. He was a charter member of the Faculty Club and served as its president from 1966 to 1982. Dedicated to education, Ed served on the Parkland School Board from 1970 to 1982 and was a former President. A member of the Lehigh County Historical Society, he served on the Board and as President of the organization. He served on the Board of the Institute for Learning in Retirement and taught there for several years after his own retirement. He was a former member of the Allentown Housing Authority and a longtime member of the Allentown Kiwanis Club and Contemporary Club. He was also a member and former Elder and Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. Ed was recognized with scores of honors throughout his life, including: the inaugural Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Distinguished Service Professor; the Alumni Associations award for Distinguished and Exceptional Service to the College; and the Trustees Award for Continuing Service to the College. Survivors: Wife; sons, Edwin R. Baldrige III and his wife, Lydia Panas, of Kutztown, Thomas T. Baldrige and his wife, Susan, of Lancaster, Christopher W. Baldrige and his partner, David Skerpon, of Harrisburg; grandchildren, Jordan and his wife, Kay, Holland, Lukas, Elias, Anastassia, Liam; great-grandchildren, Keegan and Ellie. Services: Memorial service 11 a.m., Saturday, in the Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, 3231 W. Tilghman St., Allentown. Call 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, in the church. Arrangements by J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown, www.jsburkholder.com. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Muhlenberg College, in memory of Edwin R. Baldrige, Jr., Attn. Development Office, Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18104; Meals On Wheels of Lehigh County, 4234 Dorney Park Road, Allentown, PA 18104; or the Alzheimer's Association, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
_____
From Dartmouth Alumni Magazine:
Edwin Rockefeller Baldrige Jr. '52
JUL - AUG 2014
Edwin Rockefeller Baldrige Jr. '52, M.D., died on January 10, 2014, in the Luther Crest Health Care Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He was born in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the Haverford School for Boys in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Ed received his bachelor of arts from Dartmouth in 1952 with a major in history with distinction and was a member of Gamma Delta Chi. He was also awarded the Grimes Prize For General Improvement at graduation. He received his master of arts degree and Ph.D. in 1954 and 1963, respectively, from Lehigh University. A U.S. Army veteran, he served his country in Germany from 1955 to 1957. After the service he began his teaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he served as professor of history for 40 years until he retired in 1997. He was a charter member of the faculty club and served as its president from 1966 to 1982. Dedicated to education, he served on the Parkland school board from 1970 to 1982 and was a former president. Ed was active in a number of community organizations and was recognized with scores of honors throughout his life, including the inaugural Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Distinguished Service Professor, the alumni association's Award for Distinguished and Exceptional Service to the College and the trustees' Award for Continuing Service to the College. He was the beloved husband of Georgia, with whom he celebrated 61 years of marriage on August 30, 2013. Surviving are his wife, sons Edwin III, Thomas and Christopher, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Means a heap
So leave a message
After the beep."
- Ed, on the family answering machine
It's rather rare for a gent to have as fine a mind as Ed's in the same person as a very warm heart, but he was that special kind of man.
When my parents were first married, they lived in an apartment in downtown Allentown on Ninth street. Next door lived another newlywed couple, the Baldriges. The two couples would become good friends, sharing card games and beer. Time and life made them best friends.
It was as though by becoming friends with the Baldriges, my parents had found mirrors of themselves in character. My father was not nearly as scholarly as Ed, but they had the same light heart and ability to laugh at human frailty, especially their own. Likewise, Georgia, called Geege, was virtually my mom's spirtual twin - petite, brunette, upbeat and energetic. How close were they? The Baldriges were the first friends of my parents that my folks took me to as an infant. Later, they became my godparents, slated to raise me if, heaven forbid, anything ever had happened to my folks. Would I have done well raised in a household with three boys, led by sweet Aunt Geege and jovial Uncle Ed, a professor of history? Oh, yes.
Through the years, I recall family cookouts with "the Baldies", learning to play croquet in their backyard while steaks were on the grill and Budweiser in the cooler. I have no guesses how many New Years Eves they and my folks spent together, but they were part of the "New Year's Eve Gang" that consisted also of Fred and Mary Jane Mahler, Bob and Adrienne Ehle, and Jane and Dave Seamans.
Ed, a popular and learned man, knew everyone and I benefitted from that. His many connections were formed by his social nature, coupled with his work at Muhlenberg College and the historical society. When one of his students was popular local deejay Guy Randall Ackley, with whom I'd had a long-standing phone friendship, Ed invited me to his annual student picnic to meet Guy personally. After my first year of college, Ed got me a summer internship at the historical society, where I went through every book in the library there and created a card catalogue of all the maps. It was during that time I had the pleasure of reporting to Nancy Allen, but more importantly the experience sealed my love of history and people and things of old. Leafing through rare books and flipping through boxes of antique postcards offerred a sense of stewardship that bordered on holy, and I have Ed to thank for that.
Ed's social nature also made him my sitting duck. In high school when I sang with the Allen Chorale, we once performed for a group of which he was a member. One of the solos I had required me at each performance to choose a male audience member, sidle over and gently "vamp" him. Knowing how Ed was known and viewed, it was natural to take advantage of his good nature and make him my "victim", and we had fun when I surprised him by plopping myself on his lap and playing with his hair, surrounded by rousing cheers and laughter.
Gracious? Absolutely. I remember when I was a child, he once came to visit my dad, and knowing his love of beer, I offered to get him one. I got down one of the glasses my folks used for beer, opened a bottle, generously loaded the glass with ice and poured, and presented him with it. Apologetically, my dad explained to me in front of Uncle Ed that one doesn't serve beer with ice, but Ed cut in "No, no, I like it cold" and that was that.
Ed's eldest son, speaking for all the boys, recounted at Ed's memorial service that Ed had been a passenger on a May 5, 1972 flight that had been hijacked. After the plane went through Dulles and other points on the way, the hijacker, Frederick Hahneman, got $303,000 in ransom money and bailed out over Honduras. It was recalled that Ed was not displeased by the free drinks offered by the airline during the drama.
There are other personal reflections to record, but for now this is what I can manage. Ed will be very missed. God bless you, Uncle Ed.
_____
Flags are flying at half-staff over Muhlenberg College and the world is a little less bright and funny with the passing of Dr. Edwin R. Baldrige, Jr., 83, of Luther Crest Retirement Community, South Whitehall Twp. Ed died peacefully on Friday, January 10, 2014, in the Luther Crest Health Care Center, surrounded by family. He was the beloved husband of Georgia (Wright) Baldrige, with whom he celebrated 61 years of marriage on August 30, 2013. Born in Hollidaysburg, he was the son of the late Edwin R. and Marion (Trexler) Baldrige. Dr. Baldrige was a generous and kind man with a gifted sense of humor. He welcomed all he saw with a warm smile and a quick joke. His humor, optimism, and assortment of tricks and sayings live on through his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family, colleagues, students, and many friends, but his legacy will endure. A graduate of the Haverford School for Boys, Ed continued his education at Dartmouth College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1952. He received his Master of Arts Degree and Ph.D. in 1954 and 1963, respectively, from Lehigh University. An Army veteran, Ed served his country in Germany from 1955 to 1957. After he arrived home from the service, Ed began his teaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he served as Professor of History for 40 years until he retired in 1997. He was a charter member of the Faculty Club and served as its president from 1966 to 1982. Dedicated to education, Ed served on the Parkland School Board from 1970 to 1982 and was a former President. A member of the Lehigh County Historical Society, he served on the Board and as President of the organization. He served on the Board of the Institute for Learning in Retirement and taught there for several years after his own retirement. He was a former member of the Allentown Housing Authority and a longtime member of the Allentown Kiwanis Club and Contemporary Club. He was also a member and former Elder and Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. Ed was recognized with scores of honors throughout his life, including: the inaugural Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Distinguished Service Professor; the Alumni Associations award for Distinguished and Exceptional Service to the College; and the Trustees Award for Continuing Service to the College. Survivors: Wife; sons, Edwin R. Baldrige III and his wife, Lydia Panas, of Kutztown, Thomas T. Baldrige and his wife, Susan, of Lancaster, Christopher W. Baldrige and his partner, David Skerpon, of Harrisburg; grandchildren, Jordan and his wife, Kay, Holland, Lukas, Elias, Anastassia, Liam; great-grandchildren, Keegan and Ellie. Services: Memorial service 11 a.m., Saturday, in the Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, 3231 W. Tilghman St., Allentown. Call 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, in the church. Arrangements by J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown, www.jsburkholder.com. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Muhlenberg College, in memory of Edwin R. Baldrige, Jr., Attn. Development Office, Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA 18104; Meals On Wheels of Lehigh County, 4234 Dorney Park Road, Allentown, PA 18104; or the Alzheimer's Association, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
_____
From Dartmouth Alumni Magazine:
Edwin Rockefeller Baldrige Jr. '52
JUL - AUG 2014
Edwin Rockefeller Baldrige Jr. '52, M.D., died on January 10, 2014, in the Luther Crest Health Care Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He was born in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the Haverford School for Boys in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Ed received his bachelor of arts from Dartmouth in 1952 with a major in history with distinction and was a member of Gamma Delta Chi. He was also awarded the Grimes Prize For General Improvement at graduation. He received his master of arts degree and Ph.D. in 1954 and 1963, respectively, from Lehigh University. A U.S. Army veteran, he served his country in Germany from 1955 to 1957. After the service he began his teaching career at Muhlenberg College, where he served as professor of history for 40 years until he retired in 1997. He was a charter member of the faculty club and served as its president from 1966 to 1982. Dedicated to education, he served on the Parkland school board from 1970 to 1982 and was a former president. Ed was active in a number of community organizations and was recognized with scores of honors throughout his life, including the inaugural Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg Distinguished Service Professor, the alumni association's Award for Distinguished and Exceptional Service to the College and the trustees' Award for Continuing Service to the College. He was the beloved husband of Georgia, with whom he celebrated 61 years of marriage on August 30, 2013. Surviving are his wife, sons Edwin III, Thomas and Christopher, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
