David M. Baldwin, an accomplished real estate investor who worked with some of the biggest names in the business, has died.
Baldiwin, 85, of Vero Beach, Florida and Short Hills, NJ, died at his Florida home on February 16.
David will be remembered as a caring gentleman, a loving husband and father, an accomplished New York real estate investor and a champion in athletics, philanthropy and community enrichment.
He was born in East Orange, New Jersey in 1928, and raised in South Orange. The summers of his early years were at the Baldwin family compound at Northampton Shores of Southampton Township.
He graduated from the Pingry School in 1947 before attending William and Mary College and graduating in 1951 from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.
David served in the counterintelligence unit of the army and in 1954 became a real estate broker with the former Charles F. Noyes Company, Inc.
In 1964, at the age of 35, he became president and CEO of the company, the youngest chief executive officer of a major national real estate company. He negotiated the sale of the Noyes Company, together with Brown, Harris and Stevens to Harry Helmsley.
This vital partnership lead to responsibility with Mr. Helmsley for many notable properties in New York City and across the country.
Among the many awards that recognized his personal accomplishments: in 1964 The Real Estate Board of New York’s “Young Man of the Year Award”; in 1966 its “Most Ingenious Deal in Manhattan” award, and in 1977 “Man of the Year” award from the Realty Foundation of New York.
David exclusively represented many major corporations for their headquarters and staffing space.
In 1994, following the winding down of the Helmsley portfolio, the David M. Baldwin Realty Company, Inc., was formed to specialize in the management of real estate.
David served on numerous boards and foundations including the Real Estate Board of New York, where he was governor and director, and the Realty Foundation of New York. He was also the former chairman of the Public Development Corporation.
Throughout David’s career, he sought to share his personal prosperity with many institutions and worthy initiatives in education, health care and the arts.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Barbara M. Baldwin; three sons, David Jr.; Alfred of Port Orange; William; two stepchildren, Martin “Fritz” Stein III; Kimberly Paige Fleming; three grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by his youngest son Ted and a brother, Cyril.
