Charles A. Bauman
May 13, 1921- June 20, 2011
Charles A. Bauman, 90, died of natural causes on June 20th at his home in Severna Park, MD.
He was born in Junin, Argentina, son of American Methodist missionary parents, and possessed double citizenship: Argentine and US. At age 16 he came to the US and entered Baldwin-Wallace College in Ohio, graduating in 1941. Grad school at American U in DC was interrupted by WWII. He spent 3 & 1/2 years in the Navy in the Pacific theater as a gunnery officer, serving on the carrier Yorktown (named after the one sunk at Midway) and the cruiser Oklahoma City.
Back in DC as a civilian, he married the former Helen Drye and went to Georgetown Law School, simultaneously going to work at a precursor of the National Security Agency. He passed the DC Bar Exam and was licensed to practice law but never did because he decided to continue his career as a Cryptologist, breaking foreign codes and ciphers, translating messages, and writing intelligence reports of interest to major consumers in the Intelligence Community, such as the White House, State Department, and CIA. Over his 37 years at NSA he achieved the professional rank of Senior Cryptologist and led several operational divisions engaged in cryptanalysis, intelligence analysis, and reporting.
He enjoyed travel, working in his garden, doing crossword puzzles, was an avid reader and a movie buff. He cared for his beloved wife Helen during her long illness and she predeceased him in 1998. He is survived by his devoted family: son Michael Bauman, daughter Nancy Bauman Cristiano, son-in-law William Cristiano, all of Severna Park, MD and step-granddaughter Kelley Gillen of Cumberland, Western MD.
A Chapel Service will be held on Monday, June 27, 2011 at 1:00 pm at MD Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA of Anne Arundel County, 1815 Bay Ridge Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403.
Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com
Published in The Capital on Jun. 25, 2011.
Gwen Corey
One day as I sat at my desk in the USS Yorktown CV-10 Association office - on board the ship, the door slowly opened. A young man stepped in. Upon learning he had found the association office, he said his grandfather wanted to stop by but was in a wheelchair on the hanger deck. I was out of my seat immediately, following the young man out to his grandfather to meet Charles Bauman. Though not in good health, with the help of loved ones, Charles stood and was helped to the office. He sat in the first compartment of the office sharing his memories of The Fighting Lady. Charles was the first former crew member I met and he touched my heart when he said the doctor had not given him but several months to live and he wanted to pay his association dues 'one last time'.
After that visit, Charles called the office to check-in and I checked on him as well. The day I met Charles Bauman is a memory I recall now and then. It as good to read that he beat the time his doctor told him by several years.