William Wakefield Baum
1926–2015 (age 89)
Biography
William Wakefield Baum, born in 1926, served the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle and the broader Catholic Church with distinction, first as Archbishop of Washington and then as a cardinal under Pope Paul VI, bringing pastoral warmth to both local parishes and international congregations.
He later led key Vatican congregations, stewarded education and liturgical initiatives, and remained deeply involved in the life of the cathedral until his death in 2015, inspiring clergy and laity alike through decades of humble service.