Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran
Article published
County councilman dies in
Baldoni 'a very important member of a very influential
political family'
Joseph A. Baldoni
Phyllis Baldoni, his widow, said he became ill last week and
was hospitalized on Tuesday. She said he had become dehydrated
and had an infection.
Mr. Baldoni represented District H on the County Council. He
and his wife owned Baldoni Art Gallery & Framing on
He had suffered from a heart condition for some time, and his
health was a factor in the Democratic Party's decision not to
back him for re-election in the May primary election. He was
defeated by political newcomer Heath Weaver.
Mr. Baldoni served this year as president pro-tempore of the
County Council. He also was chairman of the council's budget and
administration committee, which put in a lot of work this month
of the just-passed budget for 2007. He had served several years
in the past as council president.
Funeral services are planned at
Owen "Butch'' Morgan, the county Democratic Party
chairman, described Mr. Baldoni as a man who put service before
self.
"He was a very important member of a very influential
political family in
His late brother, Ideal, was a longtime leader of the
Democratic Party at the local and state levels. He served 25
years as the
His other late brother, Louis, was a former state
representative and state senator.
"They were very passionate about things they believed
in," Morgan said.
The precinct committeemen from District H will meet within 30
days to select a replacement for Mr. Baldoni, Morgan said.
Staff writer Nancy J. Sulok:
nsulok@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6234
Submitted by: Dan Rich
Joseph A. Baldoni
Joseph A. Baldoni, 88, of South Bend, IN, passed away at 4:44 a.m. Friday, September 22, 2006, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend. He was co-owner with his wife for over 30 years at Baldoni Art Gallery, South Bend, where he presently worked. Mr. Baldoni was born on February 11, 1918, in South Bend, IN to Natale and Assunta (Beni) Baldoni and was a lifelong resident.
On November 26, 1947, in South Bend, IN he
married Phyllis I. Poynter, who survives. Along with his
loving wife of 60 years, Phyllis Baldoni, he is survived by two
daughters, Beth Baldoni and Mary Jo (Curtis) Blankenship,
both of South Bend; and one sister, Agnes Swanson of South
Bend. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ideal and Louis
Baldoni.
Mr. Baldoni graduated from Riley High
School. He served in the 32nd Red Arrow Division of the United
States Army from 1941 to 1945 in which he served 39 months in the
South Pacific. During his distinguished military career, he was
decorated with the Bronze Star Medal (for valor), the Purple
Heart, six Bronze Battle Stars, Bronze Arrowhead, Phillipines
Liberation Medal, and other citations. After being discharged, he
accepted the position of assistant building commissioner for the
City of South Bend. After two years he left that position and
entered Indiana University.
After graduating from Indiana University,
Bloomington, IN, he did graduate work at the University of
Louisville. He was past-president of the Indiana University
Alumni Club of St. Joseph County.
In his early years, Mr. Baldoni held the position of registrar of
the South Bend College of Commerce and then became president of
the Sawyer College of Business, Evanston, IL. He then became the
vice-president and divisional director of Personnel and
Govermental Affairs for the National Bank and Trust Company.
He was active in the South Bend, Mishawaka
Chamber of Commerce where he served as chairman of the
educational committee. Joe was a member of the Mayor's Advisory
Committee on Manpower Training Development and was on the Board
of Directors of the Better Business Bureau and the Camp Fire
Girls. He served on the Board of Deacons at the First
Presbyterian Church. He also served as chairman of a number of
committees for the South Bend Rotary Club. Joe was sectional and
divisional chairman serving last as governmental affairs of and
loan executive for United Way. He also was on the board of
directors of the Osteopathic Hospital for 14 years in which he
spent six of those years as chairman. For the past 24 years, he
had been a St. Joseph County Councilman.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006, in Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528
Mishawaka Ave, South Bend. Rev. David Morrow, pastor of First
Presbyterian Church will officiate. Graveside services and burial
will follow in Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend. The family will
receive friends from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of Joseph A. Baldoni may be offered to
the Disabled American Veterans, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold
Spring, KY 41076.