Bob Baltaxe was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1927. He spent his teen years, during World War II, in London/in Edinburg, Scotland.

Bob attained degrees from Lincoln College, Oxford, Harvard in the field of Botany, Forestry and Remote Sensing Technology.

3 years as lt. colonel in British Army 30s -- joined FAO, lived and worked in Middle East LandSAT program (satellite to track deforestation, growth of desert, global warming) analyzed data and reported to heads of NATO 40s, 50s -- moved to Rome (FAO base), traveled extensively for work, mostly to north Africa retired in his 60s in Cambridge, England