Carol Soffa Baldridge

Carol Soffa Baldridge (nee Soffa), born July 6, 1952 and passed on May 26, 2022, the younger child of Albert and Harriet Soffa, of Wynnewood, PA. She was the grandchild of Frank and Eva Canady, of Wynnefield, and Jacob and Rose Soffa, of south Philadelphia. She grew up in Wynnewood, attended Lower Merion township elementary and high schools, graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1975. She received an MLS degree from Drexel University’s graduate school of Library Science two years later.

She met her husband, Ben Baldridge, while a student at Temple; they were married in 1979. The marriage produced two sons, Jacob, born in 1984, and Samuel, born in 1985. They bought a house in Chestnut Hill in 1985 and lived there for 28 years, before moving to Flourtown, in order to be closer to her mother, who was living at the Hill in Whitemarsh at the time.  

She worked as an archivist at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, ultimately serving on the board of directors of that institution. She also worked for a time as a rare book, map and print dealer.

She became interested in education after filling in as a substitute teacher at Chestnut Hill Academy and was hired as a third grade teacher when an opening occurred. She found her calling there and taught third grade boys at CHA for 10 years. Later, when illness forced Stan Parker to retire, she spent a year teaching AP history and US Constitution in his place to juniors and seniors at CHA.

She also ran NIH funded teacher workshops, with George Boudreau, who was a history professor at Penn State and later at Lasalle College.  Her time at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania gave her a deep understanding of Philadelphia history, which she passed along to teachers from different parts of the country and abroad who attended the weeklong workshops. She was also a tour guide at historic Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.

She deeply loved her family, reveling in holidays and other times when her extended family gathered to spend time together. Carol spent her final months surrounded by family and dear friends from around the country and wider world.

She is survived by her husband, her sons Jacob and Samuel, her daughters-law-in Kristina and Molly, her brother Mark Soffa, nieces Emily Soffa and Julia Soffa, nephew David Soffa, and grandchildren Henry Baldridge and Georgia Baldridge.

Relatives and friends are invited to Funeral Services Sunday 10 AM precisely at the Funeral Chapel at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, 225 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.

Shiva will be observed through Tuesday evening at the late residence.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Fox Chase Cancer Center, www.foxchase.org, or to Ben Gurion University, https://in.bgu.ac.il/en. www.goldsteinsfuneral.com