John Thomas Baumgardner

John Thomas Baumgardner, 70, of Bel Air, Maryland, passed away peacefully on February 14, 2025, with his loving family at his side. His battle with serious medical issues and defying the expectations of multiple diagnoses over the last decade showed his courage, resiliency and strength in facing life’s challenges. Born in Baltimore, on August 18, 1954, he played many sports as a child and developed a strong work ethic and grit over many years on his Grandparents dairy farm in Taneytown, MD. He lost his father at the young age of 15 and graduated from Mount Hebron High School where he enjoyed playing basketball. After graduating he worked full time; some of his early adventures included driving his GMC Jimmy across the USA with his brother Bill and camping along the way, taking multiple trips to the Florida Keys, and traveling to Turkey with a best friend from high school. John loved to throw a good party and found a way to turn that love of gathering people into a career. He married the love of his life Marleen in 1981 and together they bought their first bar in New York City within that same year. He purchased a vacation house in Ocean City, MD with his brother and shortly after opened a bar there.

John was an honorable, hardworking, loving husband and father who together with his wife was self-employed for over 40 years. In 1991 they planted their roots in Bel Air, MD to raise their family there. His businesses included Fritzie’s Deli as well as Deer Creek Remodeling in Bel Air, MD; The Salty Dog Saloon, Tastee Freeze, and Dylan’s BBQ & Seafood Express in Ocean City, MD; and the Queens Bridge Pub in New York, NY. He enjoyed spending time with his family, and he loved them very much. He is described by the people that knew him through various phases of his life as a Great Man, Loving, Honest and Levelheaded. He was a master carpenter, a passionate cook, and a Baltimore Ravens/Orioles fan. He enjoyed building things with his bare hands, cooking amazing food for friends, family and customers, eating delicious food, finding great restaurants, traveling and creating lasting experiences with his family, spending time at the beach, camping, skiing, crabbing, a good book, Clint Eastwood movies and so much more. He shared his passions with his children and taught them countless skills and lessons. He loved being a grandfather with his whole heart and was adored by his grandson Holden who knows him as “Pop-pop”. He was the kind of person you feel like you could never get enough time with and will be profoundly missed by all that loved him.

John is survived by his wife, with whom he’s been together for over 50 years, Marleen Baumgardner; son, Dylan Baumgardner; daughter, Chelsea Thorpe; son in law, Erik Thorpe; grandson Holden Thorpe; brother, William Baumgardner; cousin, Ricky Baumgardner; cousin, Rachael Pocklington; and multiple nieces and nephews. He was the son of the Late Norville William and Gertrude Marion (Jaworsky) Baumgardner. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Masters.

Contributions may be made in his memory to The St. Baldrick’s Foundation at www.stbaldricks.org/events/belairbaldricks