Obituary of Eugene C. Waldbauer

Eugene C. Waldbauer, 90, of Cortland passed away January 23, 2017 with family by his side at the Cortland Regional Medical Center. He was born July 4, 1926 in Philadelphia, PA, the son of the late Eugene R. and Louise Ruckh Waldbauer. Gene graduated from Northeast H.S. in Philadelphia. He served with the U.S. Army in Germany at the end of World War II in military intelligence. Being fluent in German, his duties included interrogating prisoners of war. He served in the Korean War with a MASH Unit on the malaria research team. Gene was honorably discharged in 1953. He graduated from East Stroudsburg, Penn State, Columbia University and Cornell University where he received a PhD in wildlife biology. Dr. Waldbauer had a distinguished career as a biology professor at SUNY Cortland spanning over three decades. He achieved the rank of full professor in 1970 and in 1979, Dr. Waldbauer was honored with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. In addition to sharing his passion for nature with the love of his life, Florence, his wife of 60 years, and their five children, he was deeply committed to his students. Courses frequently taught by Dr. Waldbauer included field biology and field botany, zoology, ornithology, parasitology and field natural history. In 1961 he initiated and developed the Field Biology program at Raquette Lake. He directed and taught many of the courses in the program until he retired. He thoroughly enjoyed instructing his students at Raquette Lake and Hoxie Gorge. Many of the courses that he developed are still taught at those locations. Colleagues often referred to him as “Turbo,” for the exceptional speed at which he could hike the nature trails. Following his retirement, the College honored him by naming the nature trail at Raquette Lake that he developed as the Waldbauer Nature Trail. Gene was on the first Board of Directors for the Lime Hollow Nature Center. As one of his favorite locations, he took many hikes there. Gene always loved his job but what gave him the most pleasure was spending time with his wife, 5 children and 9 grandchildren. He took his family on many adventures hiking and camping. His children still appreciate that Gene taught them canoeing and other outdoor skills. He is survived by his loving family including his wife and best friend Florence Bahsteter Waldbauer whom he married in 1956, his sons Eric Waldbauer (Marie Brodie), Carl Waldbauer (Margaret), Eugene (Rhonda) Waldbauer, his daughters Christine (Michael) Yonta, Heidi (Rick) Austin, his grandchildren Britta, Signe, Beck, Jaclyn, Sara, Carolyne, Tessa, Rhen, and Jack. Calling hours are from 4 to 7 PM Wednesday at Wright-Beard Funeral Home, 9 Lincoln Ave. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 11 AM, Thursday at the United Presbyterian Church of Cortland, 25 Church St., Cortland NY. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Eugene Waldbauer Sponsored Scholarship for Field Biology C/O Cortland College Foundation P.O. Box 2000, Cortland, NY 13045, or in Gene’s name to the Lime Hollow Nature Center 338 McClean Rd, Cortland, NY 13045.