Harriet Baldwin Lakin

Harriet Baldwin Lakin, age 100, died Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at home in Juniper Village, Forest Hills, PA. She is survived by her children, Barbara (the late Gary) Newton of Portsmouth, NH; John of Clinton, MA, Steven (Terry) of Norwalk, CT; and Jennifer (Douglas Rabuzzi) of Pittsburgh, PA; as well as her grandchildren Andrew, Melissa (Sean) McNamara, Christopher (Soula), Kate (Steven Showers), Laura, Nicholas (Molly Owens), Nathaniel (Nara Paulsen) and James, and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, James, in 1968, an infant son, Richard, in 1947, and her brothers, Robert and Don Baldwin, both in 2012.

Born Harriet Eleanor Baldwin on October 24, 1922, in Coffeyville, Kansas, to Ernest and Clara (Wendt) Baldwin, she was a graduate of Nottingham High School in Syracuse, NY, and earned a bachelor’s degree at Syracuse University, where she was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma. She met her husband, Jim, while at SU. They were married in February 1944, while Jim was in officer training with the US Navy. Following his return from active duty, Jim started work for IBM, and the two raised their family in Poughkeepsie and Binghamton, NY, and Stamford, CT, depending on his job assignment. During these years, Harriet was very involved as a stay at home mother and active with the Junior League. After Jim’s death, Harriet returned to the Syracuse area with her youngest child. Harriet worked in elementary and middle school libraries in Dewitt, NY, and earned a master’s degree, also at SU, during this time. After retiring, she moved to Pittsburgh in 1991.

Always keen to stay active and healthy, Harriet was an avid tennis and volleyball player into her 90s. She also enjoyed golf and, during her time in Pittsburgh, she was involved with the Ramblers walking group. Harriet was a loyal SU alumna and regular participant in local alumni groups and reunions. She was a lifelong sports fan (especially the Steelers), always happy to watch the NFL, pro tennis or pro golf. Keeping her mind active was important, too, and Harriet was a devoted reader and solver of crossword puzzles.

Harriet was a wonderful mother and grandmother. Her children participated in a wide variety of music lessons, scouts, ballet, and several sports, and Harriet was involved in it all. As a grandmother, she was always ready to bestow hugs, love and attention; in addition, she volunteered in the elementary school libraries of each of her Pittsburgh grandchildren.

 A private graveside memorial for family will be held later in the summer in Binghamton. 

Arrangements by Wolfe Memorial, LLC. www.wolfepgh.com

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