Edward Rudolph Baierlein

Edward Rudolph Baierlein, 83, of Denver, passed away on April 17, 2026.

Ed was born on August 27, 1943, in Wilmington, Delaware to Elizabeth and Rudolph Baierlein. He grew up in Wilmington and Jersey City. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Gettysburg College, and a Master's Degree in Theatre from Penn State University. In 1967, Ed married Sallie Diamond, whom he met at Penn State.

In 1968, Ed joined the Air Force and was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base, where hamade training films. Upon completing his enlistment, Ed and Sallie settled in Denver and, together with actor friends, founded Germinal Stage Denver, one of the longest-running small theaters in the city. From its inception in 1973, Baierlein was producer, director, principal actor, and spokesperson for more than one hundred and sixty performances of “plays of substance in an exciting and intimate atmosphere, "maintaining an extraordinary standard of quality for over forty-eight years. Ed was also a founding member of the Colorado Theatre Guild and spent many years on Mayor Wellington Webb's Council of Arts and Culture.

He was the recipient of many awards for his contribution to the arts, including the Mayor's and Governor's awards for the Arts, the Bonfils Stanton Award for Excellence in the Arts, achievement awards from the Rocky Mountain Women's Institute and Zeta Phi Eta (with Sallie Diamond). Ed was also the recipient of multiple Denver Critics Circle and Ovation Awards for his acting and direction, as well as the 2002 and the 2016-2017 Colorado Theatre Guild Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theater.

Outside of the operation of Germinal, Ed enjoyed playing golf, road trips to the mountains, and watching the Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies. Friends and family remember Ed for his strong work ethic, devotion to the Arts, acerbic sense of humor, and genuine honesty.

Ed is survived by Sallie, his wife of 58 year years, and son Tad.

Information regarding a small memorial for family and friends will be announced at alatern date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Colorado Public Radio. Donations may be made online at https://donate.cpr.org.