SARASOTA, Fla. — Edward Eugene Bauer, formerly of Bath and Cumberland Foreside, died Feb. 8 in Sarasota.

Bauer was born Jan. 24, 1931, in New York City, a son of Erich and Julia (Mauser) Bauer. He grew up in Richmond Hill, Queens, where he attended high school and was the first baseman and captain of the baseball team and an award-winning scholar athlete. Bauer went on to graduate from New York University. He was married in 1951 to Virginia Marie (Hellberg) Bauer, who died in 1998, and subsequently married the former Judith Soule, originally from Freeport.

After college, Bauer joined the Army and was commissioned as a lieutenant after completing Officer Candidate School, serving stateside during the Korean War. He was employed for many years by IBM. He was a skilled amateur chef, having studied with James Beard and, with his first wife,  co-owned a gourmet shop in Montclair, New Jersey, where he taught French and Chinese cooking techniques.

After moving to Maine, Bauer served as a volunteer in the animal therapy program at Maine Medical Center. He remained throughout his life a passionate fan of the New York Yankees and the Giants. Bauer was also a lifelong music lover with a particular fondness for Broadway musicals, and for some time hosted a program on the Portland-area classical music station WPKM. A member of Christ United Methodist Church in Venice, Florida, he was a true gentleman and a loving husband, father and grandfather who lived his life with grace, integrity and humor.

Bauer is survived by his wife, Judi Bauer, of Venice; his sister, Doris Broderick, of Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts; two sons, David and Steven, both of Portland; a daughter, Susan, of Bath; and 10 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. June 11 at the South Freeport Church, 98 South Freeport Road. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Parkinson Research Foundation, 5969 Cattleridge Blvd., Suite 100, Sarasota, FL 34232 (parkinsonhope.org).

Bauer