EDWARD “ED” BAUMAN, professor emeritus of electrical engineering, died Jan. 2, 2022, at the age of 88.
Born in Bird Island, Minnesota, Bauman served SPU’s engineering students for 15 years as not only their professor, but also as their mentor and as a servant-leader.
Prior his time at Seattle Pacific, Bauman served in the U.S. Air Force — rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel and teaching at the U.S. Air Force Academy and at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
When he arrived at SPU in 1985, he quickly developed an electrical engineering program from the foundations laid by emeriti Jim Critchton, Hugh Nutley, and Bob Hughson.
Bauman forged strategic partnerships with local industry partners, including Fluke and Boeing, to help students gain invaluable experience before graduation. Those internships often led to full-time employment, and graduates became major influencers in aerospace, national defense, robotics, and other key areas.
In retirement, Bauman and his wife, Betty, moved to Ocean Shores, Washington. There, they ministered to the young people in their church and in the local schools. Bauman developed an academic mentorship/tutoring program, and he and his wife helped fund their church’s new youth facility.
“Throughout his career, Ed sought to mentor, encourage, and challenge young people to strive for excellence and serve the Lord in their chosen professions,” remembered his SPU colleague Don Peter, professor emeritus of chemistry.
Predeceased by his wife in 2017, Bauman is survived by three daughters, one son, 11 grandchildren, and 15 greatgrandchildren.
