George Andrew Bauer Jr., a rehabilitation counselor and lifelong Baltimorean, died Sunday at Sinai Hospital from heart surgery complications and a stroke. He was 79.

Mr. Bauer was born and raised on Hollen Road in Cedarcroft, where he lived until moving to Roland Park 15 years ago.

He graduated from City College in 1941, served in the Coast Guard on a Navy ship in the North Atlantic during World War II, then earned a degree in business from the University of Maryland in the late 1940s.

He worked as an East Coast sales representative with Harker Pottery before earning a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling at Coppin State College in the mid-1960s. He then worked as a rehabilitation counselor, helping people who were recovering from heart surgery, until his retirement in 1985.

He collected the works of Bennett Pottery, a Baltimore ceramics company founded in the 19th century. His father was once involved in the pottery company's management.

He spent his summers in Rehoboth Beach, Del.

Mr. Bauer was an active member of Ascension Lutheran Church, 7601 York Road, Towson, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 7.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, the former Doris Carolyn Brandt; a daughter, Hollis Bauer Esposito of Lambertville, N.J.; three sons, George Andrew Bauer III of Towson, Jonathan Brandt Bauer of Parkton and David Allen Bauer of Baltimore; a sister, Adele Bauer Armiger of Baltimore; and four grandchildren.