Prominent Kansas City area philanthropist and financier G. Kenneth Baum Passes Away Tuesday at the age of 91.
Mr. Baum is a Financier, Philanthropist and Business leader in the Kansas City Finance Community. Mr. G. Kenneth Baum passed away Tuesday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota from health complications.
Mr. Baum is the former Chief Executive Officer of Kansas City Investment Bank George K. Baum & Co. If there was one thing Mr. Baum was genuinely fantastic at? It was making you feel personally valued as a entrepreneur and person. Mr. Baum served on many Boards related to Education and the Arts. Philanthropy was his special interest and Mr. Baum and his wife Ann Baum have been very involved with our amazing local Art Gallery and Museum The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. Read more about Mr. Baums activities with the Museum in the link provided. A celebration of life will be held at the Museum. Link provided
How did I meet this legendary Kansas City Financier & Investment Banker?
Let me set the stage for you. About 3 or 4 years ago a non assuming taller, older, smartly dressed gentleman walked up to me at the Nelson Atkins Museum one afternoon. He had stop to ask me if my smartphone had internet on it? I said yes Sir. He asked me if I could pull up a certain phone number and make a phone call because the Museums help desk phone wasn’t an option or working correctly.
After he had finished his phone call, he began just chit chatting with me about how Business sometimes needs to be a priority in a person’s life. I agreed. And before I knew it he was asking about my entrepreneur background. Given I really had no clue who this nice older gentleman was, I began explaining communications and using strategy to push your message through art and film. Mr. Baum recognized I was a go getter and slipped me his Phone number if I ever needed a favor or personal advice related to finance and business. He was a genuine and authentic good man.
He was unforgettable and kind to me during a time when most people I called in business were not. And since he did give me the time of day and did share actionable business advice with me. He earned my personal loyalty and genuine friendship. But most importantly. I appreciated that he would always take and return my calls to share his personal stories and challenges he successfully negotiated as a professional transaction Businessman. Mr. Baum even was inducted to the Kansas City Business Hall of Fame in 2010. His professional experiences and stories in my humble of opinion should be captured in a written memoir. It seems I may make this personal suggestion to his family. As this idea is a real opportunity for them as well. Cementing the legendary positive legacy Mr. Baum and his family deserves in the literary world.
May he rest in peace and his family find grace from their grief. And I do hope his family knows I too share in the sadness of their loss. I have only good words to share. He was and always will be a very good good man.
Godspeed Mr. G. Kenneth Baum. Thank you for the Privilege Sir.
Jameson Sharp