C. Gottfried Baumann

Christian Gottfried Baumann, M.D. of Chestertown, Maryland passed away peacefully on May 19, 2025, at Charter Senior Living in Annapolis, MD. He was 93. Born on February 14, 1932, in Markneukirchen, Germany, he was the son of Max Baumann and Elizabeth Braun Baumann. He spent his early years in a three-story home shared with his parents, younger brother Wolfgang, and maternal grandparents. His father ran a small grocery store until he was drafted into World War II. Gottfried was especially close to his grandfather and assisted him during wartime rationing by gluing food coupons to old newspapers. At the age of 10, he joined the esteemed Thomanerchor (St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig), where he sang from 1942 to 1949—a formative experience that profoundly influenced his future. At 17, he briefly returned home before emigrating to West Germany and then, at 19, to the United States with the support of a Lutheran minister aiding refugees. Driven and resourceful, Gottfried put himself through college, earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of North Dakota, a medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and a master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. He interned at South Baltimore General Hospital and worked in public health with the Baltimore City Health Department and USAID before settling in Chestertown to practice family medicine. In 1973, he married Eva Schmergel, a German teacher at Washington College. Together, they built a life on their beloved 150-acre farm, Islandia, where Gottfried became a master gardener and devoted years to restoring a 100-year-old log cabin discovered beneath the farmhouse siding. After nearly three decades serving the Chestertown community, he and Eva relocated to Sarasota, Florida. There, he cared for her parents and worked as a physician with the Veterans Administration. He embraced Florida life—walking Siesta Key beaches, attending the opera and ballet, and exploring local gardens and marine life. He also began painting, studying at the Ringling College of Art and Design, and later exhibited his work after returning to Chestertown in 2005. Ever committed to helping others, he continued his medical advocacy through the Prisoner’s Rights Information System of Maryland, providing evaluations of prisoner care until 2020. A long-time member of the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown and its choir, Gottfried’s love for music remained steadfast throughout his life. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Eva, and his children: Kathy Hock (Worton, MD), Roberta Baumann (Rockland, ME), Christopher Baumann (Myrtle Beach, SC), and Michael Baumann (Baltimore, MD); nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and his godson, David Ostwind (Annapolis, MD). A service celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 AM on June 21 at the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown, with visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Interment will follow at St. Paul’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown to benefit local charities.

C. Gottfried Baumann

February 14, 1932 - May 19, 2025