Richard “Dick” Baldwin, 92, of Damariscotta, died on June 21 at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta, in the presence of his wife and daughter, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease.
Born in Pensacola, Fla., the son of Grace Conner and Grover Cleveland Baldwin, Dick moved to Oakville, Conn. in 1921 and graduated from The Taft School in Watertown, Conn., Bates College in 1947 with a BS in physics, and Boston University in 1948 with a Master’s in physics. At Bates, Dick set a then record for the longest time to complete matriculation (nine years) due to an interruption by service in WWII.
Dick enlisted in the Naval Communications Reserve in 1937, and was called to active duty in July of 1941 as Commander of Radio Communications. He was quickly promoted to Ensign, receiving his commission in May of 1942, and served as Communications Officer aboard the destroyers USS Couglan and USS Shields. Dick participated in the longest American naval battle of WWII, the Battle of the Komandorski Islands, on March 27, 1943. He continued to serve in the Naval Reserve after the war, achieving the rank of Commander before retiring.
Dick’s whole life revolved around telecommunications. He earned his first amateur radio license, W1IKE, in 1934, later becoming W1RU in the 1960s. Dick took a job as assistant secretary at the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) in 1948, and with the exception of four years as engineer at Motorola in the early 1950s, he remained at ARRL until his retirement in 1982. He was made Managing Editor of QST Magazine and other publications in 1956, Assistant General Manager in 1963, and General Manager in 1975.
Dick became involved in the international promotion of amateur radio early in his career, and his work took him to all the continents except Antarctica. He was the principal strategist in the 1979 International Telecommunications Union (ITU) World Administrative Radio Conference (beginning preparation for this important event in 1964) in which radio amateurs were allocated their new frequency bands.
Dick was a lifetime member of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), being named President Emeritus in 1999. In 1991, he was elected to the Quarter Century Wireless Association’s Hall of Fame for “outstanding contributions to the future of amateur radio as the President of IARV.” In 2009 he was presented with their 75th Anniversary Award “to commemorate 75 years of service as a licensed radio amateur.” In 1992, Dick was named Ham of the Year at the Dayton Hamvention.
Upon his retirement in 1982, Dick and his wife Phyllis moved to Bremen and quickly became involved in the local community, while also continuing his international work. Dick was a past president of the Maine Woodcarver’s Association, and was active in the Pen Bay Amateur Radio Club, the Bremen Historical Society, and the Bremen Fire Department. He was also a member of the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle.
Dick loved Dixieland jazz, particularly the music of Louis Armstrong. He also loved astronomy, saying he would have become an astronomer if he had not gone into amateur radio, sailing his 35 foot Ketch Endurance, named after his hero Sir Ernest Shackleton, in which he taught himself to navigate using a sextant, and he also climbed Mount Katahdin many times.
He was predeceased by his sister, Joyce Billias; and brother, Stephen Baldwin.
Dick leaves his loving wife of 63 years and devoted life partner, Phyllis Smith Baldwin of Damariscotta; daughter, Judy Baldwin of Montpelier, Vt.; son, Glenn Baldwin of Bowdoinham; brother-in-law, George Billias of Worchester, Mass.; cousins, Mary Ellen Goss of Poland and Connie Drigotas of Kennebunkport; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Memorial service to celebrate the life of Dick Baldwin 11 a.m., Fri., June 29 at the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle with the Rev. Ken Dale officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the ARRL Second Century Fund, c/o ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111-1494; or to the Maine Woodcarver’s Association, c/o Barbara McCutcheon, Treasurer, 13 Liberty St., Fairfield, ME 04937.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
