Robert H. Baldwin

Robert Hammond Baldwin of North Fort Myers, FL was a World War II era flight training officer, private pilot of his own plane for many years, motorcycle enthusiast and terrific ballroom dancer. He died at age 94 on September 8, 2016. He was the devoted husband of Martha P. Baldwin for over 35 years and was predeceased by his first wife, Frances Laurena (“Lee”) Kimberly in 1977. Bob was born on December 24, 1921, the second of four children born to Harrison Earl Baldwin and Mary Wood (Hammond) Baldwin of New Haven, Connecticut. The Baldwins were a prominent New Haven family with roots in the area dating back to 1638. His ancestors were among the founders of both the New Haven and Milford Colonies. Bob grew up in the midst of the Great Depression of 1929 which was a global crisis with an economic impact lasting about 10 years. He learned many important life skills from his father, who was an architect, and his mother, a trained nurse who knew how to be frugal. Bob lived most of his life in the New Haven area. After retiring, he spent his winters in North Fort Myers, Florida and summers in Milford, Connecticut. In addition to his wife Martha, Bob is survived by his three siblings, Eleanor Higgins (age 96), Dr. David Baldwin (age 92), and Marjorie Godwin (age 90). Other survivors include his three daughters by his first wife, and they are Katherine Lee Colman (James), Mary Margaret Rehnberg (Carl), and Kim Hammond Coughlin (Thomas). Four step-children, Leif Tregger, Kimberly Gentile (Frank), Kristine D’Amico (Brian) and Lawrence Tregger (Laura) survive him as well. Bob is survived by numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Bob was a gentle, kind person who was highly regarded by everyone who knew him. He was a carpenter by trade and, for many years, owned his own company in Connecticut specializing in residential home construction. His hobbies included riding motorcycles, ballroom dancing, and flying his own airplane. He shared that love of flying with his daughter Kim Coughlin, whom he trained to be a pilot. After enduring the death of his first wife when he was 55, Bob had the good fortune to meet another lovely woman to share his life and his love of dancing. Together, Martha and Bob shared more than 35 years and enjoyed a larger extended family in the process.

While in his 80s Bob began suffering from a loss of sight and was no longer able to do some of the things that he loved such as driving, riding his motorcycle, and flying his airplane. He still managed to ride a bicycle and stay active into his early 90s and took up some new hobbies such as listening to news programs to stay up on current events and using his cellphone to remain in touch with family and friends all over the country. Everyone marveled at his ability to have such a positive outlook on life. He is joyfully remembered as a man who had an incredible sweet tooth – always offering his hard candy and cookies to everyone. Perhaps all of that candy helped to make him so sweet! He is also remembered as a spiritual person with a strong Christian faith.

His family will be celebrating his life privately at a later date. Bob has requested that his ashes be interred in a family plot in Milfordside Cemetery in Woodbridge, Connecticut, a cemetery containing many of his early colonial ancestors.

Friends are invited to send condolences via the on-line guest book which can be found at www.MullinsMemorial.com.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.