VOORHEESVILLE — Mark H. Baumbach, who wrote many hymns and poems, was, his family said, “a very quiet gentleman, God-loving, charitable and talented but humble.”

Son of the late Carl S. and Ruth W. Baumbach, he was born on June 23, 1943. He died on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 81.

He and his mother owned the Helderberg School of Music in New Scotland, where they gave private lessons of the violin, piano, and organ. He was a graduate of The Albany Academy and Hamilton College and received his master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

He was the church organist and choir director of the former United Armenian Calvary Congregational Church in Troy for 18 years. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Delmar where he sang in the choir.

He was the past Master of Wadsworth Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons Lodge #417. He was also a member of The Monday Musical Club, the Second Milers, Sons of the Revolution, the Helderberg Hikers Club, and the New Scotland Historical Association. He was also a member and past president of the Dutch Settlers Society of Albany.

“He gave many piano and organ concerts in the area,” his family wrote in a tribute. “While a member of the baseball team at The Albany Academy, he pitched a perfect game. An avid hiker, golfer, writer, artist, and composer, he wrote many hymns and poems. He was a very quiet gentleman, God-loving, charitable and talented but humble.”

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Mark H. Baumbach is survived by three cousins: Roger Woodin (and his wife, JoAnn Price Woodin), Gretchen Kestner, and Hannelore Dean, and several other cousins. Another first cousin, Paul Woodin, died in 2024, but his wife, Judi, survives.

He is also survived by the following first cousins once removed: Ruth Woodin, Ashley Woodin (Jeffrey Walker) and Jason Woodin (Jennifer), children of Roger Woodin, and Denise Woodin and Kelly Woodin, children of Paul Woodin.

His good friend, Mary Bernstein, died in 2023 at the age of 100.

A memorial service will be held at the Applebee Funeral Home on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 11 a.m. Interment will be at the Albany Rural Cemetery in the Baumbach family plot, Section 122.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church of Delmar, 426 Kenwood Ave., Delmar, NY 12054.