Edwin Rockefeller Baldrige Jr. ’52
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.
