Harold W. Gegenheimer, of Mystic and Stonington, a long-time printing industry leader, inventor, innovator and supporter of education, died at his home in Mystic, CT, on October 4th He was 95.
Harold played a key role in the post-World War II printing industry, leading Baldwin Technology Company, Inc., to international prominence. He was a prolific inventor with more than 40 US and international patents. He was also a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, an avid sailor and a generous, cheerful companion who embraced music, laughter, and life.
Harold was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 30, 1910. He grew up in Brooklyn and Baldwin, New York, with his parents, William and Minnie Gegenheimer, and his sisters, Madeline and Ethel. From 1929 to 1933, he attended Georgia Tech University, where he studied engineering, ran track, and was active in Chi Psi fraternity
After graduating from Georgia Tech, Harold returned to New York and went to work for his father at Baldwin as the company's fifth employee. Between 1937 and 1951, he worked in other printing machinery businesses including ATF-Webendorfer and the Electric Boat Company during World War II. In 1951 Harold rejoined Baldwin and directed the emergence of the company as an international industry leader. He became chairman of Baldwin in 1972, a position he held until his retirement in 1983. He served as chairman emeritus until his death.
Harold invented and patented numerous products for the offset printing process. One of his earliest accomplishments was the invention of the Convertible Offset Perfecting Press. The sheet reversing concept patented by him in 1956 allows for one or more colors to be printed on both sides of the paper with just one pass through the press. Today, this technology is used on all convertible offset perfecting presses. Many industry experts consider it the major sheetfed press innovation of the past 50 years.
Harold was also a proud supporter of education and innovation in printing. He served as president of NPES: The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and chair of the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) Society of Fellows. He also chaired the GATF's National Scholarship Trust Fund, which later became the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) and endowed a scholarship in his and his sister's name at PGSF in 1986. The Harold W. Gegenheimer and Madeline Gegenheimer McClure Scholarship remains the largest at PGSF and has provided college scholarships and graduate fellowships to more than 200 students. In 1995, Gegenheimer also endowed an annual Lecture Series on Innovation at his alma mater, Georgia Tech. Harold's numerous industry awards attest to his record of service and support.
Harold lived a very long and happy life. He traveled extensively, visiting five continents and making countless friends along the way. He loved music and song, and could always be relied on to lead family and friends in Christmas carols or the fight song of his alma mater. He also loved sailing, whether in his home waters of Long Island Sound, along the coasts of New England or across the Mediterranean or Caribbean. He continued to sail into his nineties, last taking the helm in 2002 while cruising the Bahamas with his children.
He spent his last days in Mystic and Stonington with his wife, Shirley, watching the ships on the water and entertaining family and friends with tales of his life's adventures. Locally, he was a member of the Wadawanuck Club and the Stonington Country Club.
Harold is survived by his wife, Shirley Beal Gegenheimer, whom he married after the death of his first wife, Helen Ramsdell Gegenheimer. He also leaves two daughters, Judith Gegenheimer Hyers and Jane Gegenheimer St. John; a son, Jeffrey Gegenheimer; and five grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 11, at 2:00 p.m. at the Mystic Congregational Church. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Harold W. Gegenheimer/Madeline G. McClure Scholarship Fund at the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation 200 Deer Run, Sewickley, PA 15143 (412-259-1740). To send his family a message of remembrance/condolence, please click the link below.