Maurice 'Micky' Baehr Sr., 89, insurer, city trusts leader

Maurice Warren "Micky" Baehr Sr., 89, of Huntingdon Valley, vice president of the Board of Directors of City Trusts in Philadelphia and a retired insurance agency owner, died of heart failure Friday, Feb. 25, at home.

For three decades, Mr. Baehr served without compensation on the board, which oversees the estate of Stephen Girard, including Girard College and the Wills Eye Health System, and is charged with the administration of 115 other trusts left to the city for charitable purposes.

Mr. Baehr served on several corporate, civic, and philanthropic boards and supported Republican political candidates.

He was a past president of the Northeast Chamber of Commerce, a past vice president of Torresdale Frankford Country Club, and an active member of the former Calvary Lutheran Church in Northeast Philadelphia.

"Micky's life and work are a clear example of how the Greatest Generation created the American dream," his daughter, Maureen, wrote in a tribute. "He did not wait for opportunities to be given. He ran toward them, embracing them with enthusiasm, hard work, and generosity to others."

Mr. Baehr grew up with six siblings in North Philadelphia and graduated from Northeast High School.

During World II, he served in the Army as an officer and was in charge of a supply unit in England.

After his discharge, he was a service scheduler for a Cadillac dealership and a salesman for Heinz Foods before joining the Harvey Goodstein Insurance Agency and eventually becoming its vice president.

In 1955, he established M.W. Baehr Associates, a general insurance agency in Northeast Philadelphia. He spent long weeks on the road securing endorsements of trade associations to offer insurance benefits to their members, his daughter said.

In 1989, he retired and turned M.W. Baehr Associates over to his son, Maurice Jr.

Mr. Baehr's wife of 48 years, Anne Coffey Baehr, died in 1989. In 1990, he married Barbara McGinley, with whom he enjoyed 20 years of golf, bridge, travel, and entertaining.

In addition to his wife and children, Mr. Baehr is survived by a granddaughter.

A Funeral Mass was said Wednesday, March. 2. Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem.

Memorial donations may be made to the Wills Eye Health System, 840 Walnut St., Philadelphia 19107.