Ann was born in 1935 and raised in Baltimore, one of seven children of Eugene F. and Blandina M. Baldwin. She is survived by a sister, Elizabeth Baldwin of Baltimore; and a brother, Vincent Baldwin (Chris) of Reston, Virginia.
Ann was a 1953 graduate of Mount St. Agnes High School and studied to become a medical secretary at Mount St. Agnes College. As a teen, Ann modeled the latest fashions at Hutzler’s department store, strolling through the aisles so customers could admire the outfits – an animated mannequin, you might say.
After college, Ann worked as a medical secretary at the University of Maryland Hospital, in the Ear, Nose and Throat department until the birth of her first child in 1960.
In 1959, Ann married the late Robert F. Hochwarth, senior legal counsel for CSX railroad, and devoted her life to raising her six children. Ann and Bob met at a University of Maryland mixer. As she recalled, “One guy showed off his fancy moves while dancing with me, but then another guy cut in and asked me to dance. He said, ‘I came over to save you from that show off. And my name is Bob Hochwarth.” Thus began their love story, which lasted 47 years, until Bob’s death in 2007.
Ann and Bob raised their family from the ‘60s through the ‘90s, starting off in a modest Rodgers Forge row house. Following the birth of their fourth child, they moved to Lutherville, Maryland. In 1973, while employed by the B&O Railroad, Bob accepted a transfer to Cleveland, and the family settled in the suburb of Bay Village. In 1986, Bob was transferred back to Baltimore and, following his retirement, the couple lived in Timonium.
Ann was proud of her heritage, with American and Maryland roots stretching back to the 1600s, including such renowned ancestors as Founding Fathers George Mason and Charles Carroll, and the Ridgely family, former residents of the now-named Hampton National Historic Site. Her father, grandfather and uncle were accomplished architects who designed many Baltimore and east coast homes, churches, schools, office buildings and railroad stations, including the B&O Railroad Museum, the Warehouse at Camden Yards, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist (Savannah, GA), and Mount St. Agnes High School.
In recent years, Ann enjoyed following the Baltimore Ravens and sharing her love of all-things Elvis Presley with family and her caregivers at Brightview Senior Living. (Funny aside: Ann’s children cannot recall her ever speaking of an Elvis fixation until after Bob died.) To her final days, Ann was a devoted Baltimore Colts and Ravens fan. Her favorite players were Lamar Jackson and Justin Tucker, whom she praised for his beautiful voice, having heard him once sing at a Cathedral Christmas mass.
In addition to her sister, brother and many nieces and nephews, Ann is survived by her six children: Patricia Sheehan (Lawrence Tusick) of Cleveland; Elizabeth Hochwarth (Steve Schonfeld) of Lutherville, MD; Karen Bender (Michael Wagner) of Lutherville, MD; Robert Hochwarth, Jr. (Anneliese Ortiz Pandiella) of Greensboro, NC; Mary Hochwarth of Baltimore; and Thomas Hochwarth of Parkville, MD. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Patrick Sheehan, Robert Sheehan, Ann Sheehan (Neal Kelly), Matthew Bender (Laura Huser), Luke Bender, Taylor Hochwarth and Robert Hochwarth, 3rd, Zoe (Fazal) Yasin, and great-grandchildren Patrick Jamison Sheehan and Layla Yasin.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Ann’s life with her family on Monday, May 6, 2024. Visitation will be held from 10am to 11am, followed by a service and blessing at 11am, at Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley, Inc. (10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road), Timonium, Maryland 21093). A private burial will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider making a donation to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or the cause of your choice.
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