David Baldauf

Rhinebeck - David Baldauf completed his earthly journey on February 20, 2024, at the age of 95. His Christian faith and commitment to stewarding the earth’s resources shaped his career choices, lifestyle, and public and Christian service. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Alfred and Helen, and his brother and his wife, Milton and Margaret.

Dave was a devoted husband to Marion for 68 years and a loving father and father-in-law to Susan (Mark Wright), Jane (Brian Lucia), Daniel (Alicia), and James (Lori). He developed special relationships with his grandchildren: Aaron and Sarah Lucia, Jonathan and Taira Baldauf, Aubrey and Tristan Baldauf and Christopher Goudy. His life was enriched by friends. Though his loss is immeasurable, so is the love and legacy he left behind.

David served in the US Navy as an electronics engineer. He earned a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. He began working at IBM when it was a pioneer in computers and worked there for 35 years. The highlight for him was managing the space navigations systems for Gemini missions.

David shared many recreational activities with his children as a father, which he continued to enjoy even into his 90s: tennis, cross country and downhill skiing, hiking, kayaking, and camping. In retirement, Dave and Marion traveled widely, enjoying life-long educational adventures from ancestry research to snorkeling. He enjoyed all that his community offered, including the symphony, trails, restaurants, history, and sailing. He served Rhinebeck (NY) Reformed Church as Adult study group facilitator for 40 years, Consistory member, committee chair, and he headed up initiatives in Stewardship. He coordinated Caring for Creation, a faith-based perspective on the environment for area churches. Dave was active in the community, serving on the Zoning Board for 30 years and on the Town Master Plan Committee. He was instrumental in the conservation of Burger Hill. He participated in Rhinebeck at Home and volunteered as a caregiver for many years.

In his memoirs he professes “being motivated to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.” While working in the space program during the 1960s he became aware of how fragile the earth’s atmosphere is and how everything interacts with everything else in nature. He kept a photo of Earthrise on his wall. He and his family built a home with solar heat in the 1970s. 

He chose to return his body to the earth at the Natural Burial Ground in Rhinebeck Cemetery, which will take place on Friday, February 23 at 1 pm, 55 Mill Rd., Rhinebeck, NY 12572. We ask for everyone to arrive a few minutes early so we can walk to the gravesite together.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Rhinebeck Reformed Church on Saturday, February 24th at 11 am. Guests are invited to join the family for food and fellowship afterwards.

Memorial gifts may be made in David’s name to High Peaks Hospice, 454 Glen St., Glens Falls, NY 12801, or to the Winnakee Land Trust, Inc., 7 Livingston St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 or online at www.winnakee.org, please indicate it is for David Baldauf. 

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