Collette Ramsey Baker

COLLETTE RAMSEY BAKER FOUNDER DEAFNESS RESEARCH FOUNDATION Vero Beach, Fla. On May 9, This remarkable woman passed away at 91 with her adoring husband and devoted companion of twenty-two years, Maurice Baker, constantly at her side. She was born in 1918 in Waverly, Tennessee. In her young adulthood, she became a favorite model of the renowned painter, Howard Chandler Christy. She was also a famous amateur golfer, setting the women's record at her home club, Baltusrol in N.J., winning its club championship for four consecutive years. After living with a substantial hearing loss for many years, at age 35 she had her hearing completely restored with an early fenestration operation. In gratitude, just over 50 years ago she founded the Deafness Research Foundation, for which she became widely known and respected, and was listed in Who's Who for Women. Under her leadership, DRF gave grants to colleges for research and improvement of hearing. She received letters of commendation from many leaders and well-known people including Hoover, Eisenhower, Helen Keller, Cardinal Spellman, and others. Mrs. Ramsey Baker is survived by her husband Maurice Baker of Vero Beach, FL, her brother Charles Nicks of Hayesville, NC, her daughters Collette Wynn of Washington Depot, CT, and Janet Conrad of West Chester, PA, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Service will be private. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to Deafness Research Foundation, 641 Lexington Ave., 15th floor, New York, NY 10022 paid obituary