James French Baldwin Jr. died peacefully on Oct. 28 in the care of his family in Annapolis, Md. He was 80.

He was born May 20, 1934 in Boston to Marie-Louise Vondermuhll of Montclair, N.J., and James Baldwin of Boston.

Jay leaves a legacy of charm and generosity of spirit. He is fondly remembered by his many friends as a welcoming host, trusted confidante, avid sailor and consummate gentleman. In his later years, this man who embraced life was a model to others on how to face adversity through strength of character and good humor.

He attended Tabor Academy, and later studied at Lamar University in Texas and Columbia University. He served in the Army during the Korean War, stationed in Germany. On his return, he undertook a career in film production and advertising in New York city, both as an independent producer and executive at Norman Craig & Kummel.

Jay then joined his father in over 30,000 miles of transatlantic ocean racing. His life campaigning the champion 60’ racing yacht Sorcery included the Newport-to-Bermuda and Annapolis-to-Newport races, several transatlantic races, Cowes Week and the Fastnet Race, where Sorcery was first home, as well as the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit. Jay summered with his family at their home in East Chop on Martha’s Vineyard from a young age until 2002.

He settled in Annapolis in 1975 where he pursued water fowling and sailing, and became a charter member of the Eastport Yacht Club. In 1980, he married his beloved Kathleen (Schmidt) Baldwin. They traveled Europe extensively, living in both Germany (where he pursued skeet and game hunting and served as a hunting instructor) and England (where he was in his element as a tweedy country gentleman). Following their return to the States, Jay and Kathleen bought and restored a Hooper Island Draketail, Catbird, and shared with friends the pleasures of cruising local waters.

In addition to water fowling, skeet and hunting, Jay and his father were early developers of sporting clay competition, as described in a Sports Illustrated article in February 1966. His passion for outdoor habitat led him to 20 years’ volunteer service as chairman of the Annapolis Conservancy Board. The mission of this board, the only public urban land trust in the U.S., is to save small parcels of open space for critical areas. Through Jay’s efforts, over 200 acres of wooded parcels were saved, enhancing the open and park-like feel of Annapolis. He was a co-founder of the Eastport Civic Association, and served for a number of years as a member and then chairman of the Annapolis Planning and Zoning Commission.

Jay’s interests also included creating and sharing excellent food, and lifting a glass of fine wine. His kitchen has been a fair harbor and welcome port for many.

Survivors include his wife Kathleen M. Baldwin of Annapolis, brother John C. Moore of Chicago, sister Mimi Rosenwald of Ossining, N.Y., son James F. Baldwin 3rd of San Francisco (from his first marriage to Frederika Noe), daughter in law Katheryn M. Baldwin, grandson James F. Baldwin 4th, granddaughter Lilliana Noe Baldwin, and nephews Christo and James Johnson.