Candace Baldwin Richards, formerly of Chestnut Hill, PA and Scottsdale, AZ, died peacefully at home in Falls Church, VA on February 1. She was 79 years old and leaves behind a legacy of love and resilience.
Candy was born on January 26, 1946 in Chestnut Hill, PA, the third daughter of Barbara and Seward Baldwin Jr. Candy dedicated her life to her family, faith, and cherished friendships.
A proud resident of the Philadelphia and Main Line area for much of her life, Candy was a standout student, serving as valedictorian of her 1963 class at Springside School. In 1967, she graduated with a Classics degree from Cornell University where she was an active sorority sister of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Candy began her professional career as an HR analyst at John Hancock in Boston but soon discovered her true passion for teaching. She returned to Philadelphia to inspire young minds at Springside School, later at St. Peter's School in Society Hill, and ultimately, at the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr as the assistant to the Head Mistress.
A loving mother to her two children, Candy raised Katie and Chad with her first husband, Charles Kurz II, in the close-knit neighborhoods of Society Hill and the Main Line.
In September 1996, Candy married her beloved husband, John Wheeler Richards. They embraced the snowbird lifestyle, splitting time between Arizona and the Jersey Shore, before ultimately settling full-time in Scottsdale. John served as Candy's devoted advocate and caregiver, providing unwavering support during her life-saving kidney transplant in 2002, spinal reconstruction in 2010, and her courageous journey with mental health challenges.
After John's passing in 2020, Candy relocated to Falls Church, Virginia, where she found a supportive community at Kensington Senior Living. She thrived there, enjoying the care and companionship of the staff and her many neighbors. Returning to the East Coast also brought her closer to family, allowing her to share in numerous holidays, birthdays, and even having a front-row seat at Chad and Karlie’s wedding in 2023.
Candy's faith was another cornerstone of her life, strongly rooted from an early age at St. Thomas’ Church, Whitemarsh in Fort Washington, and later at Old Pine Church in Society Hill and Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, where she also served as a deacon. In Scottsdale, she became an active member of both Pinnacle Peak Presbyterian Church and Desert Hills Presbyterian Church. She always cherished singing in the choir, especially during the festive Christmas and Easter seasons.
An adventurous spirit, Candy was fortunate to travel the world over, with Tanzania and the Galapagos Islands among her most unforgettable experiences. She always wished to be at the beach, particularly on Sanibel Island, FL and Longport, NJ where she made countless summer memories hunting for seashells.
Many of those seashells became enduring symbols of Candy's creativity. In addition to the various Christmas ornaments (angels made of scallop and mussel shells, or starfish tree-toppers), her handmade treasures included needlepoint pillows, smocked children’s clothing, sewn garments and knitted sweaters.
Candy also loved puzzles of all shapes and sizes, friendly rounds of Scrabble or Mahjong, and the delight of deciphering the nightly clues on Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
Candy is preceded in death by her second husband, John, her sister Gail (nee Baldwin) Simmonds, her brothers-in-law David Simmonds and Ludlow Miller, and her beloved niece Caroline (nee Simmonds) Cook.
Candy's legacy lives on through her children: her daughter, Catherine “Katie” Kurz, and her husband Andrea Rubio of Erlenbach, Switzerland; and her son, Charles “Chad” Kurz III, and his wife Karlie (nee Blattner) Kurz of Arlington, VA. She is also survived by her eldest sister, Barbara “Babbie” (nee Baldwin) Miller of Pleasanton, CA.
Candy will be remembered for her radiant smile, creativity, and caring nature. Her immediate family, nieces and nephews, and dear friends will miss her deeply. Her resilient and courageous spirit will continue to inspire all who were fortunate to know her.
A memorial to celebrate Candy’s life will take place on Wednesday, April 30 at St. Thomas’ Church, Whitemarsh in Fort Washington, PA at 2:00 PM. There will be a private interment of ashes beforehand in the St. Thomas’ Memorial Garden.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Candy’s memory can be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or the National Kidney Foundation.
“Perhaps they are not stars in the sky but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy.”
