Louis Nelson Baker

Louis Nelson Baker
REDDING, Conn. -- Louis Nelson Baker of Redding, Conn., died on Feb. 22, 2011, in Danbury, Conn. He was the husband of 56 years of Barbara (Shepherd) Baker.
He was born on May 10, 1924, in Cleveland, Ohio, the youngest child of Earl and Marguerite (Cutter) Baker. He spent many of his early years with his family in the Portland area where he developed a lifelong love for the Maine coast. He was a 29-year resident of Wilton, Conn., before moving to Redding 13 years ago.
Mr. Baker served his country during World War II in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps in the European Theater. Following his service, he received a bachelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1950, a master's degree from the University of Kentucky in 1951 and, a Ph.D. in genetics and animal science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1954.
He began his career teaching animal husbandry at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, then moved to Iowa State University where he worked on a research project for the Atomic Energy Commission studying the long-term generational effects of radiation. In 1968, he moved his family back to his beloved New England, taking a position at the New York Blood Center in Manhattan where, for 21 years, he held various research and administrative positions.
Early in his retirement, the World Health Organization recruited Mr. Baker to visit Burma to assist it in its efforts to produce a hepatitis B vaccine for their infant population.
In retirement, Mr. Baker enjoyed traveling with his family and spent many of his happiest moments at his beloved Higgins Beach, surrounded by his children and grandchildren, his family said. He also enjoyed his daily visit to the Wilton Family YMCA where he rarely missed a day. He also was a dedicated volunteer at the Mid Fairfield Hospice in Wilton.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Baker is survived by his sons, Frederick and his wife Susan of Redding, Mark and his wife Sibylle of Milton, Vt., and Daniel and his wife Ellen of Appleton; six grandchildren, Donald, Rebecca and Kendall of Redding and Nathaniel, Alex and Isabel of Milton, Vt.; several nieces and nephews; and his cousin, Ann Sleight of Washington. He was predeceased by his parents; and siblings, Robert, William and Phyllis.
A celebration of Mr. Baker's life will be held at the Wilton Congregational Church, 70 Ridgefield Rd., Wilton, Conn., on Saturday, April 30, at 1 p.m.
Memorial contributions
may be made to:
The Wilton Family YMCA
404 Danbury Rd.
Wilton, Connecticut 06897
or Mid Fairfield Hospice
180 School Rd.
Wilton, Connecticut 06897
Louis Nelson Baker