Lou Baldwin, a Catholic Philadelphia-based journalist, passed away Oct. 18 at age 86; he was known for his work for The Catholic Standard & Times for 35 years. 

Baldwin’s funeral will be held on Oct. 23 at St. Christopher Church in Philadelphia.

“I was privileged to know and work with him. He was one of the most talented journalists in the Catholic press nationwide. Always a loyal son of the church, Lou was a great writer who could cover the groundbreaking for a parish building, a Right to Life march, or the talk of a visiting cardinal at the seminary with accuracy, insight and warmth,” Joseph Ryan, Baldwin’s managing editor, said, according to Catholic News. 

Baldwin, who was orphaned during the Great Depression, formed a devotion to St. Katharine Drexel, later writing two biographies about the saint. Baldwin served in the Korean War and was a stockbroker, accountant, librarian and finally joined The Catholic Standard & Times in 1986. He retired after 35 years, according to Catholic Philly. 

Baldwin married his wife Rita and they had 61 years of marriage. Together they had nine children and 17 grandchildren, as well as three great-grandchildren.

The family is requesting that instead of flowers, donations are made to the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.