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John Cook Baldwin, Jr. '37

Aug. 31, 1915-Feb. 12, 2006

John Cook Baldwin, Jr. ’37, who owned and operated a lumber company in California for almost 50 years, was born on August 31, 1915, in Baltimore, MD. A son of John C., Class of 1910, a physician, and Ada Case Baldwin, he prepared for college at the Friends School in Baltimore and enrolled at Hamilton in 1933. He joined Sigma Phi and became much involved with student publications, including The Hamiltonian and The Continental, which he edited in his senior year. Elected to the journalism honorary Pi Delta Epsilon as well as Quadrangle and DT, he also went out for tennis and played varsity football. A member of the Interfraternity Council, and among the student pall bearers at the funeral of Elihu Root, he left the Hill with his B.S. degree in 1937.

John Baldwin’s first employment was as assistant manager of the bond department of Maryland Casualty Co. in Los Angeles, CA. From 1943 to 1946, during World War II, he served in the U.S. Army. By 1948, he had again settled in California, where he entered the lumber business as owner of New Pacific Lumber Co. in El Segundo. With its main yard located near the Los Angeles International Airport, he operated the company until it was sold in 2000. In the meantime, he also owned a horse ranch in Atascadero, north of his home in Palos Verdes Estates, which his daughter managed.

A physically vigorous man fond of golf, tennis, skiing, and sailboat racing, John Baldwin was especially devoted to long-distance running. He participated in 15 marathons, including the New York at the age of 66 in 1981. He also enjoyed writing “mildly racy” short stories, two collections of which he published in 2003.

John C. Baldwin was still residing in Palos Verdes Estates when he died on February 12, 2006, at the age of 90. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Baldwin; a son and daughter, Steven and Cynthia Baldwin; and a granddaughter and a brother.

Necrology Home

Note: Memorial biographies published prior to 2004 will not appear on this list.



Necrology Writer and Contact:
Christopher Wilkinson '68
Email: Chris.Wilkinson@mail.wvu.edu

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