James Baker

1930 - 2015

James Nettleton Baker, former Chairman of the Western Railroad Traffic Association, passed away at home on September 2. Jim was born on December 2, 1930 in Springfield, Massachusetts to Harris and Genevieve Baker. After attending The Taft School in Watertown, CT, Jim graduated in 1953 from Yale College in New Haven, CT with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Jim was married to Mary Copeland Baker in San Francisco on June 25, 1965; the two enjoyed their 50th wedding anniversary earlier this year. Jim was the loving father of Lanny and Ann Baker, of Lafayette, CA and Basalt, CO respectively. Jim was the proud grandfather to six children. Jim spent many long summers on Cape Cod during his youth, served in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Korean War, and was often found skiing with his close group of friends in the Rockies and spending time with family and friends on the French River in northern Ontario and on the beach in Carmel, CA. A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 11th at 4:00pm at the Glencoe Union Church in Glencoe, IL. Those wishing to make a tributary gift in Jim's memory are asked to consider The Nature Conservancy (4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203 www.nature.org) or the Glencoe Union Church (263 Park Ave., Glencoe, IL 60022).