I was a patient of Dr.Baums in the early 80’s. He is the reason I am still here this day!  My deepest condolences! Doc was a great man and an inspiration to all he came in contact with. He truly located fir all his patients and their families !

Ann,
Deepest sympathy on the loss of Ed.
This news conjured up so many memories of our years working together at McDonald's, and our many "road trips" to help advance the mission.  
Please know you are both in my thoughts and prayers.  Grateful for Ed and his many contributions and accomplishments;  and heartfelt hope for peace and healing in the days ahead for you.
Love,
Bridget Marshall Coffing

Thanks Dr. Baum for the care and attention given my son, Eugene, who is now an award winning newsphotographer in California.   Thanks for taking him to a Bears game and to their Lake Forest locker room to meet and receive a signed football from all the players, for starting Ronald McDonald House in Chicago and One Step at a Time Camp in Wisconsin.  We have not forgotten those special moments over 40 years ago!  Thanks!  -Beverly Garcia
  

Dearest Ann and family,
Wept to read of Dr. Baum’s passing and extend my deepest sympathies to you all. I had the privilege and pleasure of  traveling with Ed to several Ronald McDonald House grand openings, as a PR executive at Golin. Not long after, he recruited me to volunteer for one summer  - that turned into four - at One Step Camp, which was a wonderful experience under his leadership. I will always remember his keen intelligence, calm demeanor, kindness and most of all, his great sense of humor! What a legacy he leaves for all of us blessed to have known him. May he Rest In Peace. 

Relapses, depression, and even friends passing away sadly sometimes happens. For some campers, Camp One Step is the only place that they feel unashamed of their scars, baldness, prosthetics, and ports. No matter what someone is going through or what has happened we will always be by each other’s side.


Thankfully, my liver grew back. After my second surgery, I was tumor free.

Seven years after my surgeries I came to Camp One Step. I remember almost crying when my parents left after dropping me off. On the first day, I was too shy and scared to talk to anyone. This was partly because two of my counselors had prosthetic legs and I thought they were robots. By the second day I accepted the fact that no one was a robot, they were simply just kids who had gone through similar experiences as my own. Camp One Step has not only helped me come out of my shell, but it has helped me realize that my cancer is not something that I should be ashamed of. Camp has allowed me to make the greatest memories and find my best friends. I can not be more thankful for what camp has given me over the years.

I have been a camper for twelve years and it is still my favorite place on earth. Truly, I cannot imagine what my life would be like without this place. This camp is a second family for everyone that comes. We can all relate to one another in a way that is strange to most. But that is what makes our friendships so unique and special. Every child is able to open up to someone and not be judged for what they have gone through. Even if we have not seen our friends in a month, six months, or even a year, we all know that we are always there for each other. The bonds made at camp are unbreakable. Camp One Step has truly given the world to every child that comes through their doors. Camp One Step has given me a chance to experience things that I never thought I would—whitewater rafting, horseback riding, rock climbing, skiing in Park City, UT, and even talking to Congress in Washington, D.C.
While camp offers us a tremendous amount of fun and good times, we are also forced to face some difficulties. Since this is a program for not only cancer survivors but children still going through treatment as well, problems can occur.      Continued 1x time

Camp One Step
When I was seven, I sat on the floor in my friend Marin’s basement. I was listening as she described a place called Camp One Step. It was an exclusive place for children with the misfortune of having cancer. Both Marin and I are cancer survivors, and she was trying to convince me to go to this cancer camp. I remember sitting there quietly thinking, “Why would I want to spend two weeks surrounded by a bunch of bald kids who would be throwing up into buckets all day?” However, after hearing many stories, Marin finally convinced me to go.

The following summer I clung to my mother’s arm as we walked up the steep steps to the camp check-in office; I was scared out of my mind. Before I went to Camp One Step I was a quiet child who never spoke of my cancer because I was almost embarrassed by it. I never showed my surgical scars or talked about the many hospital visits because I knew that the other kids would label me as the girl with cancer. My close friends knew the gist of my story but they still never could understand what it was like. Camp One Step changed all of that.

Back when my mother Pamela was pregnant, the doctors noticed something wrong with me during an ultrasound. My mom was induced into labor three weeks early so they could assess the problems I was facing. Unsure of what was wrong, doctors performed exploratory surgery when I was three weeks old. They found a tumor the size of a softball in my left adrenal gland. With a few tests, they discovered that I had Neuroblastoma stage 4s. Neuroblastoma is a very rare type of childhood cancer that develops in nervous tissue outside of the central nervous system. My amazing doctors at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin were able to remove the tumor in my adrenal gland. However, when I was thirteen months old, they discovered that I had hundreds of tumors in my liver. I had another surgery, and the doctors removed half of my liver.       Continued next post

Forever grateful to Dr Baum for creating Camp One Step.My daughter Abbie was able to attend for many years after her diagnosis of cancer. She looked forward to seeing her friends and counselors every summer. She eventually trained to be a counselor because she wanted to give back to such a special program that changed her life in such a wonderful way.
I wish we could have met Dr Baum to tell him how much this camp net to us. 


I was there for some of the "new beginnings" for Dr. Baum. I was a young nurse in pediatric oncology when he moved from El Paso to Chicago and started working at CMH. I was with he and Charlie when they first visited the nuns in the convent that was to become the RMH. I helped clean up the construction work mess on the back stairs for innumerable weekends as the building grew from a convent to a beautiful RMH.

I was an early member of the planning committee as he developed the wonderful, amazing, truly life-changing One Step At A Time Camp. I was an early program director with his guidance and watched his delightful banter with Sister Erna and others. I fell for his ploy to get me to meet his friend (and my idol) Paul Newman. I was speechless, he was delighted!

Through the years we shared working with patients and families day to day, learning from the long term survivors, and sometimes sitting at the bedside of dying patients. Together we attended funerals which at that time was pretty much unheard of for a doctor to do. He taught me so much and together we learned so much from patients and families. His legacy is immeasurable. He will be missed so much.

I read this obituary and I had a tear or two in my eyes.  I haven't seen or talked to Dr Baum in over 25 yrs or so.....but I'll never forget him.  When I first met Dr. Baum I was recently divorced and just moved back from Marietta,  Georgia where my son was under the care of Drs. from Scottish Rite Childrens Hospital for ALL.   I called Childrens Memorial Hospital to get information about their Oncology Dept and find out exactly what I needed to do.  They transferred me to Dr. Baum and he was so helpful and encouraging. I couldn't believe that a Dr. would actually take the time to talk to me.  We talked for about 15 minutes and he really made me feel at ease and that they could follow the protocol that my son was on.  The first appointment we had I was so impressed with the pediatric oncology out patient clinic.  They had cookies, crackers, Kool Aid and coffee for anyone who wanted it, volunteers walking around making sure we were doing OK,  everyone was so helpful and friendly.  When I met Dr. Baum the first time I knew we were in the right place for sure.  He met with me first and then Marcelino was brought in and he was so nice, funny and caring.  I've never met another Dr. that could compare to him. One visit he walked into the waiting room and grabbed a patients musical case and took out a horn and started marching around playing it.  Everyone was smiling and laughing.  He just had a special way about him.  He really cared. I don't remember the names of any of the other Drs. that treated my son, but I'll never forget Dr. Baum.  I want to offer his family my sincerest sympathy,  when someone is as dedicated as he was, I know the family also made some sacrifices.  Thank you for sharing your husband and father with all the young patients and their families.   Camp One Step at a Time was so  genius and so very much needed for the patients as well as the parents.  My son treasures those camps and the family weekends were amazing!    RIP Dr Baum you were phenomenal!


I was very sad to hear of Dr. Baum's passing and his family is in my heart and prayers.  For 8 years I was able to witness first hand the compassion and love that he extended to all of the kids at One Step Camp.  All the kids cherish him as did the staff. He will be missed but his legacy will live on with every kid that that attends camp, beats cancer and grows up to become the best they can be.  Thank you Dr. Baum for showing us how to live.

I’ll never forget the first day I met Dr. Baum at One Step at A Time camp, I couldn’t believe that one man could care about us “cancer kids” so much that he created a place that we could be those cancer kids and not be ashamed or alone. When others would push us away, or stare funny- I could always find comfort in knowing someone out there DOES care, and for that for those 2 glorious weeks in the summer, I wouldn’t have to be afraid of the stares or comments. Dr. Baum helped me fight, without him I don’t know if I would even be here. I will be FOREVER grateful for those memories. Rest In Peace Dr Baum- after all your hard work earth side, you deserve it. We love you.! ❤️

Sad news,I'm so sorry to hear this . Dr .Baum was dedicated to his patients,  a caring ,kind, interesting, excellent doctor. One of the Best !!! Thank you for all you did for my son Kourt, trips ,One Step Summer Camp . Ronald McDonald House. We will never forget you. Rest in Peace. Prayers to Jackie and Danny ,the Baum family. ♡

dr baum gave me a second family, friends, mentors, but mostly a positive outlook on life. as a camper he always took the time to encourage a moment even if its passing a swim test, hearing a joke, or singing a song. will miss him saying, "any other announcements" followed by "have a good day". The big thing will miss is when campers and staff cheering in a dining hall when we heard his voice (even the people that don't know him) thank you dr baum for bringing hope to all of us and telling us to keep fighting the good fight. one step at a time

Dr Baum had superior vision and I’m so thankful for One Step Camp and the Ronald McDonald house concepts that he was a part of.  While I didn’t attend camp as a child with cancer, I did have an awesome experience as a counselor and instructor.  I often wondered what kind of difference One Step camp could have made for me as a child with cancer.  At the end of the day - it doesn’t matter.  I know that being a counselor who survived a rare and aggressive cancer made a difference to the campers I engaged with.  It gave them hope - and hope is one of the greatest gifts you can give.  On top of that I have met some of the absolute best people I know.  They are compassionate- driven- loving and giving.  Thank you Dr Baum for giving me the opportunity to have so many wonderful people in my life!  ❤️   Lots of love and hugs to all family members!  Celebrate his excellence!

Very sorry to hear of Ed’s passing.  I was fortunate to meet and work with him to bring a Ronald McDonald House to Charlotte.  My sympathy to his entire family. May he rest in peace. 

It is hard for me to adequately express what Dr. Ed Baum has meant to me and my family over the many years since we first met:
Dr. Baum gave us hope for our daughter, Kathey, when no one else could or would.  In August of 1975, Kathey, at 10 months of age, was diagnosed with a rare and deadly form of cancer, and we were told she had three months to live.  Our family doctor sent us to Children’s Memorial Hospital and Dr. Baum became Kathey’s oncologist.  Because of Dr. Baum’s brilliance and expertise, we were blessed with Kathey’s  presence for 44 years. During one of her many hospitalizations, in early 1977, Dr. Baum personally carried my suitcase from the hospital to the Ronald McDonald House so that I could get some rest.  The house was not yet open for guests.  As Kathey thrived under his care, Dr. Baum kept asking me when we would let Kathey attend the One Step At A Time Camp he had established for children being treated for  cancer or leukemia.   When she was finally old enough to attend the camp,  I can’t even begin to put into words how much that camp meant to her.  She met other campers who had faced the challenges she had faced most of her life, she made countless lifelong friends, and she felt accepted and loved by her peers, her counselors, the doctors and nurses and all of the wonderful people who volunteered to make camp possible.  We will always love, remember and appreciate Dr. Baum and will be eternally grateful for his kind heart and  for all of his wonderful accomplishments that improved, made better, or saved the lives of our daughter and countless other children.    Dayle, Dick & Rick Morrissey


Dr. Baum was a friend, a teacher, a mentor. I met him when I was a young nurse. He gave freely the gift of knowledge. And he held high a standard for which he expected you to meet.
Very early in my career, before I had ever heard of One Step, he threw down the first of many challenges, when he told me “all the good nurses go to camp.” That was a gift of a lifetime.
We shared many special moments, a lot of laughter, and some animated fights too. I will always love Dr. Baum, he was a treasure.
Prayers to his family. Thank you for sharing him with all of us. 

I owe a significant portion of my life to Dr. Ed Baum. Having founded One Step at a Time Summer Camp in 1978, I would find my home away from home 22 short years later. I'll never be able to fully repay Dr. Baum for all of the happiness this place has brought to my life, so I'll do my best by constantly giving back to that place. for the rest of my life. Dr. Baum's efforts in camp, the Ronald McDonald houses, and medicine are without a doubt the most noble causes I've seen a person take a part in. Thank you for everything you gave to this world, Dr. Baum. You touched the lives of literally thousands of kids, and made their worlds that much better. I know that Al Kromer led all of those campers who are also not with us anymore to meet you at the gates to say "Job well done." Rest in Peace.

Dr. Baum was my remission oncologist, but i met him the year prior at One Step at a Time Camp. His amazing vision and medical expertise has touched the lives of many. What he did in the clinic healed our bodies, but camp healed our spirit. I’m so grateful for the many friendships built during those times. Whether  we had them for a year or a lifetime, they were all special. Dr. Baum also taught life lessons through his actions and sometimes lectures. I will remember him always and fondly. My prayers to all who lost such a special man. 

I owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Baum for giving me one of the greatest gifts of my life. My experiences and the relationships from camp are some of my greatest treasures.

After my second year, I came home and went to one of my spiritual advisors. I related the feeling I experienced the first year, which I thought was singular, but that it happened again the second year. It was a feeling of entering a different realm...like floating above the ground. He said "you know what that is", and I responded "no, please tell me." He said that feeling is the absence of the bondage of self. When you are at camp, you are thinking about the children and their safety 24/7, and  "you are not thinking about yourself." "Service is the rent you pay for your room in heaven."

I have tried to practice that every day of my life.

I am saddened to hear of Ed’s passing. I was privileged and fortunate to know Ed as a  highly respected pediatric oncology colleague, and as the person who brought the ideas of Ronald McDonald House and a camp for kids with cancer to my attention. I was able to take Ed’s vision to Los Angeles and turn that into the 3rd House to get underway after his Chicago RMH and to start Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, both flourushing to this day. Without Ed’s vision and help, neither would have happened. Ed was literally the “Johnny Appleseed” of the early Ronald McDonald House movement. These contributions as well as his work on the treatment of childhood cancers and his care of so many children battling these diseases will live on as his rich legacy. My sympathies to Ann and his family.
Stuart E. Siegel, M.D.

There are so many awesome memories. I am so blessed that my path crossed with this amazing man. He has left an ever lasting imprints on my life, that I will charish for ever!  I have met many amazing people through his dream of a camp for children with cancer.  So that they too could camp like everyone else and still receive their treatments. Also, this wonderful man. Began to get to work, on place for parents.  Where they could be close to their children and the hospital.  This being the Ronald McDonald House! My parents donated their time and talents to help open this Amazing Place. I also worked there as a relief manager with my mother for one week in the summer.  I soon became very close to Dr. Baum  I became his runner, and ran letters and materials he need from the house to his office. He also was my knight and shinning armour.  He came to my home sickness rescue.  Every night I got a hug from him or a short ride in the Road runner. We talked about how my day was going.  I soon fell in love with Camp and even became a counselor.  So, Here's to the Ever Lasting Memories and Friendships we all have made though his Amazing Dreams! May his legacy live on in all our Hearts... One Step at a Time.  My thoughts and prayers to Anne and his wonderful family.

I had no idea when I contacted Dr. Baum in 1981,  indicating my interest in volunteering at the rather unusual One Step At A Time Camp, that my life was about to change dramatically! Ed asked if I could develop and organize  a Waterfront program  for the upcoming summer? For the next 32 years, I had the opportunity as ‘Water Ed’ to come to know this extremely ‘seductive’ visionary individual. He was always conceiving new ideas.  “How about a Lake Swim, scuba qualification program, Dive Trip,  etc? Okay, go do it!”.  Ed stepped out of his role as a caring pediatric oncologist and became the Camp Director.  
His theme,    “ These are normal kids with special problems!”.  
The impact Dr. Baum had on his patients, their families, volunteers and  yes, even donors was beyond measure. The opportunity  and blessing to become his friend was not unique to me, but in fact was as equally personal to each of the thousands he touched. Truly, he is one to qualify, as one of the most unforgettable individuals encountered in a lifetime.  Sincere and deep condolences to Ann and each of his family members.  I can’t wait until next year!
Edwin Shinitzky & Gail Prince

I owe my life to Dr.Baum.  He was the Dr. that took a chance on me.  I was not supposed to survive.  I was not supposed to lead a normal life.  I was not supposed to be able to have kids.   He gave me all of that and more!  He gave me camp!  It was there that I made lifelong friends who could understand what It meant to have cancer. I met friends who understood survivors guilt. I met friends who pushed me to be the best I could be...no cancer excuses!!  I have lead the life I have led because he took a chance on me. Dr. Baum was my hero, an inspiration to many and a big part of who I am today!  May he rest in peace and always be remembered for all the good he has done for so many!! Thank you Dr. Baum!!

My wife, Terri, and I first volunteered at the One Step At A Time Summer Camp in 2002.  We did quite a few Summer Camps and a lot of Ski Trips. Ed taught many things, including that giving of yourself was good for the soul as well as the kids and other volunteers.  He made possible thousands and thousands of wishes come true.  His memory will always be with us.  Our sincere condolences to Dan and the rest of the family.  Thank you for allowing Ed into our lives (though I suspect you didn’t really have an option!).  Don and Terri Liebentritt 

OBITUARY

Dr. Edward Simon Baum

January 23, 1937 – October 3, 2020

McEwen Funeral Service-Pineville Chapel

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