Charles C. Baum died of pancreatic cancer on October 24 at the age of 73. He will be remembered for his wit and wisdom, love of life, generosity, intelligence, and enthusiasm for learning.

Above all, he loved his wife, Patricia, his children, grandchildren, and siblings. Nothing was more important to Charles than family and friends. He was a life advisor, a business advisor, and the best question asker. He had an uncanny ability to maintain deep relationships with friends from summer camp, grade school through graduate school, and beyond.

For each person in his life, he remembered a birthday, a favorite moment, a funny line. He was a one-man clipping and search service, well before Google, finding what might be meaningful to each person and sending it with a hand-written note.

After spending his childhood in Montgomery, AL, Charles graduated from Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School (Class of '64, Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude), Harvard Business School (Class of '66), and University of Maryland Law School (Class of '79). After HBS, he went to Wall Street firm Loeb, Rhoades & Co. He moved to Baltimore in 1973 with his first wife, Jane (Shapiro) Rodbell, where he worked at United Iron & Metal (now United Holdings) with his father-in-law I.D. Shapiro. He continued to run the family office until the onset of his illness in the fall of 2015.

In the mid '70s through late '90s, he was a partner at Shapiro, Robinson & Associates, advising professional athletes including Eddie Murray, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken Jr., Willie Mays Aikens, and Kirby Puckett.

Upon moving to Baltimore, he became quickly engrained in the city's civic and philanthropic community. He served on the boards of Center Stage, The Aaron and Lillie Straus Foundation, and the University of Maryland Foundation. In addition, he was the Investment Committee chair of the Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore and was serving as its President at the time of his death. He was a long time member of Beth Am Synagogue.

Charles' corporate board service included Baltimore's MuniMae (now MMA Capital Management), investment advisory firm Gabelli Group Capital Partners, and telecommunications company ICTC. He also served as Chairman and CEO of Morgan Group, Inc. and was a special advisor to Baltimore's Charm City Run.

Charles had numerous and diverse interests including the arts, literature, sports, travel, and politics; he never missed a day or page of the Baltimore Sun, New York Times, or Wall Street Journal. He was proud to be involved in Bill Bradley's presidential campaign and served as a Delegate to the 2000 Democratic National Convention. He enjoyed playing sports throughout his life, especially basketball, tennis, and golf, and was an avid spectator, rooting passionately for the Orioles and, above all, for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Charles is survived by his wife, Patricia (Purnell) Baum of Severna Park, MD. He had three children, Andrew (1968 - 1971), Katie of Berkeley, CA, and Matthew (Deborah) Baum of Baltimore, MD, and two stepdaughters, Staci (Andrew) Hodge of Baltimore and Beth Bafford (Dan Yeoman) of Washington, DC. He received endless joy from his four grandchildren, Beatrice Kennedy and Max Charles Baum and twins Samantha and Riley Hodge. He is also survived by his sister, Sylvia (Herb) Horowitz of Columbia, MD and their children Joanne Beren (Jeff Arbeit), Susan Beren (Rodrigo Pizarro), David Beren, Diana England (Richard), Laura Simon (Warren); his brother, John (Diane) Baum of Baltimore MD and their children, Emily Baum (Josh Burke) and David Baum. In addition, he is survived by Jane (nee Shapiro) Rodbell (Stan) of Baltimore, MD to whom he was married from 1966-95. He was pre-deceased by his mother, Josephine C. Baum and father, Max S. Baum, both of Montgomery, AL.

Lastly, he is survived by many friends, whom he loved and who loved him.

For complete memorial and contribution details please visit www.sollevinson.com.



Published in the MontgomeryAdvertiser.com on Oct. 27, 2015.