[Oe List ...] Jim Baumbach: A Westside Story

[Alice Baumbach]

Thank you George and Carol! What a fantastic story!

On Thu, Dec 4, 2025, 1:18 PM Nancy Lanphear via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
wrote:

> A great story to be added to the “book”of stories and memories of this
> amazing community. What a wild, messy and inspiring  journey we’ve been on.
> Nancy
>
> On Dec 4, 2025, at 7:47 AM, Sunny Walker via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
> wrote:
>
> 
> And what similar stories we could have for each of us - we were/are a
> wonder. May the wonder continue and the blessings roll down.
> Sunny
> ------------------------------
> *From:* OE <oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of
> carol.walters--- via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
> *Sent:* Thursday, December 4, 2025 8:40 AM
> *To:* ORDER LISTSERVE <oe at wedgeblade.net>
> *Cc:* carol.walters at yahoo.com <carol.walters at yahoo.com>
> *Subject:* [Oe List ...] Jim Baumbach: A Westside Story
>
> The following story was written by George Walters after we talked together
> about our memories of the Baumbach's when we lived and worked together.
>
> Jim Baumbach: A Westside Story
>
> By George Walters
>
> It was a cold Chicago winter, 1977, and the old Westside Bethany Seminary
> where the ICA colleagues lived to work in Fifth City was suddenly without
> heat for the third time. All the stopgap solutions had not worked on the
> ancient steam heating system. We were getting quotes on a new system, which
> for an NGO budget were astronomical.
>
> Jim had spoken to me several times about a treatment and restoration
> system of the old system and pipes that his company sold around the world
> and so we talked again and he said, “Let me show you what is possible.”  I
> okayed a modest budget so he could go to work.
>
> We managed to clunk along for several days by wearing sweaters and
> jackets, kept warm enough to work.  Suddenly after about a week, the heat
> was on everywhere. A knock on my door and Jim was standing there smiling
> and saying, “come look.”
>
> Down into the basement we went, and I could hear the roar of the furnace
> as we approached and there it was – new pipes painted red, and a series of
> drums of chemicals across the floor with tubing tied into new valves with
> handles you could turn. He and our building super, Mike Ford, were beaming
> from ear to ear as they explained to me the technology and the chemicals
> being applied.
>
> “This tank will begin to clean out the rust and corrosion across the
> entire 5 story campus” he said. “This tank will prevent new build up of
> corrosion” he added. “This big barrel will collect the corrosion which we
> can then have hauled away. Mike will gradually increase the corrosion,
> removal chemicals and increase the chemicals that prevent build-up.  I
> will help him monitor.”
>
> But then there was the long-term issue. It was still an old system which
> could have other ailments. The chemicals were costly and would need to be
> sustained to sustain the system. Jim just smiled and said, yes that is all
> true, but we’ll tackle that next winter. I agreed. I’m not sure how the
> rest of that winter got paid for, but I think I know. By the next winter, I
> was gone and we soon left the old campus in favor of the Bethany Hospital’s
> expansion plan.
>
> Today as we mourn Jim’s passing, we all remember the consummate
> professional he was, and the generous spirit he embodied as shown in this
> one of many stories.
>
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