WELLINGTON, Fla. – Erwin Walter Baumann, 87, of Palm City and Wellington, Florida, and Gray, passed away on July 20, 2025, in Wellington, Florida.

Erwin was born to parents, Lilly and Walter Baumann on Aug. 13, 1937, in Hamburg, Germany. Erwin was the oldest of three children and when he was 15 his parents asked him if he wanted to go to America to “pursue his dreams”. He traveled by boat from Germany and landed in Hoboken, New Jersey, and lived with a sponsor while he finished secondary school. Erwin then went on to study Education at the State University of New York at Oswego and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Education. His initial position was as an industrial arts teacher in Long Beach, N.Y., where he met his lifetime partner, Meryl Price who was also a teacher.

Meryl and Erwin were married in 1964 and bought their first house in Smithtown, N.Y., where they raised two children, Michael and Michelle. Meryl and Erwin both taught on Long Island for the rest of their careers.

Erwin had a full and active life enjoying golf, tennis, fishing, and spending time with cherished family and friends. He loved travel with is wife of 58 years and would reminisce on their favorite trips like their Galapagos Islands trip where they spent hours snorkeling and exploring and Erwin was surrounded by a herd of baby seals.

Erwin is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Stephen Cheatham, his son and daughter in law, Michael Baumann and Laura Schwindt, his four grandchildren Sarah Baumann, Emily Maxwell and husband Alex, Jake Baumann and partner Mary Johnson, Jon Cheatham and wife Caitlyn, and his three great-grandchildren, Elliana, Amelia and Maverick. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Fran Gerstner and nephews Mark and Scott Gerstner and their families.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Maine Medical Center in Erwin’s memory: http://www.mmc.org/donate.