Beatrice Weicker Baldauf
Beatrice Weicker Baldauf passed away peacefully at home in San Francisco, July 23, 2018. She was 84.
Bea was devoted to her family and dear friends. She loved small gatherings, intellectual conversations and time around the table listening intently to all that was happening with everyone and with the world. She was forever thoughtful, and while she wasn’t the first with a retort or comment, when she did let her opinion or observation be known, it was usually with keen insight and perspective.
Born May 15, 1934 in New York City to Beatrice Trostel Weicker (of Milwaukee) and Frederick Ernst Weicker (of New York), she was always known as Bea.
Bea’s childhood was spent in Mexico, primarily at Rancho Santa Barbara, a cattle ranch established by her parents in the remote Sierra Madre Mountains of Durango.
Bea attended the Madeira School in McLean, Virginia (1951). She was a good student, an accomplished athlete and, in her senior year, elected Head of Student Government. Bea went to Mills College for a year before transferring to Cornell, where she graduated in 1955. There she met the love of her life, Bumps Baldauf, who was getting a graduate degree at the Hotel School. Bea’s brother Fred, a close friend and DKE fraternity brother of Bumps, introduced them. In 1956 they were married in Milwaukee and honeymooned at Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite.
Bea and Bumps’ early life together took them to New York and Alexandria, Virginia where Bumps set-up, managed and opened the new Trader Vic’s restaurants. Later, back in San Francisco, they purchased a home on West Clay Park where they lived for the remainder of their lives.
Bea volunteered for the Edgewood Children’s Center working on their annual Garden Fair. As President of the Auxiliary, she served on the Board of Trustees and in the 1980’s she worked tirelessly on the cottage renovations of their lovely campus.
In 1968 Bea and Bumps purchased a 37’ sloop named Windsong, that would be the center of family activities for the next 30 years. Bumps took great pride that Bea was the helmswoman, no matter if the fog was down on the deck or the wind was howling.
Bea spent a number of years competing as a member of a women’s-eight crew out of the Marin Rowing Club in Corte Madera. She always loved exercise and being out on the water.
In the early 1990s, the family realized dream of building a house on the coast at Sea Ranch. She became a member of the Posh Squash, an organic community garden that she enjoyed immensely.
Bea struggled with congestive heart failure over the past several years, but she soldiered on, uncomplaining and enjoying her time with friends and particularly family, especially grandchildren.
This past November, she experienced a particularly difficult episode that landed her in the hospital. She framed her situation as another of life’s challenges to be dealt with. As always, she turned to strengthening her body to help her through this stage. Although it was a challenge and tired her out, she loved physical therapy and looked forward to every session. She was an inspiration.
Bea is pre-deceased by her beloved husband of fifty years, Bumps, her brother Fred, Bumps and her first child, Fritz, who died at childbirth. She is survived by her sisters, Florence Weicker of Millbrook, New York and Dorothy Weicker of San Rosa, California. Remaining and cherishing her memory also are her son Hans (Marian), Fritz, Liesl, her daughter Lisa (Jay) Pierrepont, Jack, Béa and her son Karl (Lizann), Eva, Lachlan, Conlan, all of San Francisco.
A memorial will be held at 4:00, Thursday, September 20 at St. Mary the Virgin, 2325 Union Street, San Francisco. A Life Celebration will follow at the St. Francis Yacht Club.
Donations in Bea’s memory can be made to the Edgewood Center for Children and Families, 1801 Vicente Street, San Francisco, CA 94116 - (415) 375-7576 or to a charity of your choice.