Donald "Don" Joseph Baldrica

Don was born in Portland, Oregon, the first child of Mary and Joseph Baldrica, and was raised there with his brother, Richard where both attended Central Catholic High School. After high school graduation, Don served in the US Navy during the Korean conflict and was stationed in San Diego, California. Following his honorable discharge, Don returned home and attended the University of Portland, and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. While there, he was co-host of the campus radio show, ‘The Lean Babies’, with Diane Della Santina. They soon fell in love and following their graduations, married on June 23, 1956, at Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Portland. Don was initially employed by the US Geological Survey (USGS) for 4 years, and then joined Bonneville Power Administration in 1960 where his main responsibility was future electrical power planning, until his retirement in 1986. Family was very important to Don and Diane, and in 1957 they welcomed their first child Marianne, followed by Alicia, Don Jr. and Christine. Dinners were always spent together at the table, where everyone would share about their day and Saturday night game nights were a regular event. Oftentimes on weekends when Don wasn’t golfing, he and Diane would take their children on day trips around Oregon, and for several years spent two weeks each summer at Canon Beach on the Oregon coast, one of Don’s favorite places. Once the kids were grown, Don and Diane moved to Ashland, Oregon in 2007 and made wonderful new friends at the Mountain Meadows Retirement Community. Following Diane’s death in 2011, Don found love again with Marilyn Waldeck and they spent more than 10 years together before she passed in 2023. In 2019, Don suffered a stroke and could no longer care for himself and Marilyn, so they relocated to Penngrove, California near her daughter Susie Murray, who spent many hours each week with them at their group home. In 2023, Don moved one final time to Madonna Gardens Assisted Living facility in Salinas, California, to be closer to family, where he was well cared for until his death.

Don shared his love of nature, birds, projects, food, wine, golf, a good joke and a dry martini with the next generation, and each of his children have an appreciation for many of these same things to this day. His kindness and warm hospitality made him likable and popular with each community he engaged in, and his sense of humor and well reasoned discussions left a lasting impression. He was a good listener and always had time for his grandchildren, spending countless hours at baseball games and volleyball tournaments happily cheering them on.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Diane, his brother, Richard, his daughter Christine and his partner Marilyn Waldeck. He is survived by his daughters Marianne and Alicia (Kenny Franklin) and his son Donald J. Baldrica Jr. (Katy). He will be missed by his four grandchildren Owen Baldrica (Jessica), Luke Baldrica (Krista), Gareth Franklin (Sarah) and Hope Baldrica. He also had seven great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Home Connect Hospice of Fremont, CA and Don’s friends at Madonna Gardens for the care and compassion extended to him in his final days. Internment took place at Eagle Point National Cemetery in Eagle Point, Oregon on March 28, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Don’s honor to the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that Don cared passionately about. You can do so by clicking on the link below.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held at the McInnis Park Golf Center banquet room at 350 Smith Ranch Road, San Rafael, CA on Saturday, August 9, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Family and friends are invited to attend.