Furlong Baldwin passes away

Amy Davis photo, Baltimore Sun

H. Furlong Baldwin, the longtime leader of the Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Co. and former NASDAQ chairman, passed away Saturday at his home, Eyre Hall, at the age of 92 due to complications from multiple myeloma.

Born in Baltimore, Baldwin graduated from Princeton and joined Mercantile in 1956. Initially unfamiliar with banking, he worked his way up, becoming president at age 38 and later the CEO of the parent company. Under his leadership, Mercantile expanded into commercial lending and grew through the acquisition of smaller banks, which maintained their independence.

According to an article in the Baltimore Sun, Baldwin’s cautious and steady leadership kept the bank independent, earning trust and respect. He was deeply committed to civic engagement, notably supporting Johns Hopkins University and playing a key role in saving the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra during a critical period.

Baldwin was described as a reliable, self-assured figure. He also had a passion for history and was involved in various cultural and philanthropic efforts, including serving on the boards of Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Stratford Hall (the historic Lee Home), and other prominent organizations.

Outside of work, Baldwin enjoyed his family estate, Eyre Hall, located just off Route 13 in Cheriton. The beautiful colonial “Eastern Shore style” home sits on land that has been in the Eyre family since 1668, spanning 14 generations. Baldwin carefully preserved the historic home and garden, which has been part of the Eastern Shore Garden Tour for 75 consecutive years.

After retiring and “coming home,” Baldwin sought to make a local impact through investments with his son, Eyre, to provide better opportunities for entry-level and middle-class families. Much of this initiative was centered around the Cape Charles Harbor and the Sustainable Technology Industrial Park (STIP). The STIP park, located on about 100 acres south of Cape Charles, was designated by President Bill Clinton as an industrial zone. The goal was to establish a marine hub on the Mid-Atlantic to specialize in yachting and local marine industries. One of the fruits of this endeavor was the refurbishment of the Harvey Building in Oyster, which was beautifully restored, then barged around Cape Charles to its present location in the town of Cape Charles, where it now houses the Hook at Harvey Restaurant.

Baldwin believed in not just building new, but in repurposing historically significant structures, preserving them, and embracing their legacy. He was a major supporter of the Rosenwald School initiative, a school built in 1929 to educate African Americans during segregation. He was also a strong advocate for Shore History, frequently opening his family property for historical symposiums.

Additionally, Baldwin supported many causes that went largely unnoticed. For example, he ensured that there was always a band at the Cape Charles Independence Day Parade. As a former Marine, he was dismayed by the lack of patriotic music, so he personally funded a band each year. He also generously donated to local volunteer fire companies.

His daughter, Mary “Molly” Baldwin, said, “My father was a generous man. He believed that to whom much is given, much is expected.”

Survivors include his companion of 37 years, Louise Hayman; a son, Severn Eyre Baldwin of Cheriton, Virginia; a daughter, Mary “Molly” Baldwin of Chelsea, Massachusetts; and a granddaughter, Grace Baldwin.

Funeral plans are pending with the Williams Funeral Home.