Marilyn Baldwin

Marilyn Baldwin passed away in Boulder last weekend while recovering from hip surgery. She had lived in Boulder for nearly 10 years to be near family. Marilyn was born in Melrose, MA to Pauline and George Holden; grew up in New Haven Junction, VT; attended Beeman Academy and graduated valedictorian from Burlington High School. She received a Bachelors in Music from the University of Vermont; was a member of Delta Delta Delta and soprano soloist at various Burlington churches. Upon graduation she taught music in Essex Junction, VT and shortly thereafter married William Baldwin. The family moved to Syracuse and while raising two children Marilyn continued as a music teacher in Liverpool, NY, and sang in the Syracuse Chorale. There the Baldwins had a wide circle of friends and enjoyed skiing, sailing the Finger Lakes and holidays spent back in Vermont with family. In addition to teaching she was the soprano soloist at University Methodist Church and both she and Bill were members of the Syracuse Symphony Opera Chorus, singing in many opera productions. In a move to Hagerstown, MD, in 1968, Marilyn became the soprano soloist at St. Paul Methodist Church. While raising two teens she maintained her quest for excellence by travelling monthly to Syracuse to study with the renowned soprano Helen Boatwright and performing numerous solo recitals. Four years later Bill & Marilyn moved to Gaithersburg, MD; Marilyn stayed busy and connected to her new community working as a restaurant manager and in real estate sales. The DC years were filled with singing at the National Methodist Church of DC, the Women's Club of Chevy Chase events, concerts and operas, sailboat cruising on the Chesapeake Bay and travel with friends. Upon Bill's death in 2000 and her subsequent move to Boulder in 2007, travel was a priority. She took trips and cruises to Morocco, the Mediterranean, Russia, Scandinavia, Turkey and Brazil. Her yearly solo travels to the Santa Fe Opera and Spoleto Festival in Charleston were highlights until age 89. As a 90th birthday celebration she attended a production at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC. In the quiet times she was an expert knitter - copying current fashions she saw in Bergdorf's - a stylish dresser and loved watching football and baseball. She was immensely proud of her grandchildren whom she was able to enjoy milestones with and watch them become young adults. Marilyn was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, William Wayland Baldwin; and her brother, Frederick Holden. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Anne & Henry Beer - Boulder; son William Andrew Baldwin - Clarke County Virginia; and grandchildren Peter Beer - Los Angeles; James Beer - New York City; and Grace Baldwin - West Virginia. In lieu of flowers any expressions of condolence may be forwarded to the charities that were dear to her: The Colorado Music Festival, Opera Colorado and the Red Lipstick Fund/Boulder Community Health Foundation.