Jack Baird

1931 - 2022

Jack Baird was born to Walter Baird and Lucile Baird in 1931 in a small town in Illinois. He joined brother Robert, and later his younger brother Tom completed the family. Jack, nicknamed "Chub" while growing up, stayed in the same town through to his high school graduation in 1949. Life was especially difficult in the early years. Jack spent most of the third-grade sick with ear infections, until a new medication, antibiotics, saved his life. Jack's father was killed in 1941 in a mining accident. The extended family provided for several years until his mother began to work in the post office. Perhaps these early experiences resulted in his being a responsible worker at his teenage job at a brickyard. He learned enough about the business to stay with a kiln during a heating anomaly once when the boss was away, preventing a fire. Jack enjoyed trains - both those running through town and watching his dad's clay mining small engine. Jack also spent several summers with local aunts and uncles on their farms. One of his uncles always managed to provide funds for weekly movie attendance. As a near adult of 18 and 19, Jack first worked in and subsequently ran an exceptionally small local restaurant with only three items on the menu. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1950 and served most of his four-year enlistment at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, CO, learning and then instructing in electronics and radar. While in Denver, Jack met Clara Beach (Clare) on a blind date arranged by friends. They were married late in 1954, just before his Air Force discharge. Unsure of his own academic potential, Jack asked Clare if they could return to Illinois for in-state tuition for one semester of University of Illinois electrical engineering studies (before likely failing). Instead of failing, Jack continued his education until June 1963 when he received his PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois. He specialized in the relatively new field of lasers. While completing his studies, their children Bonnie, Jan and Jay were born. Jack and Clare were both eager to return to Colorado. Jack completed post-doctoral research at the University of Colorado in the summer of 1963. After four years of teaching and research at the University of Illinois, Jack and family relocated to Boulder for an opportunity with the University of Colorado. He taught for eighteen years and was known as a practical instructor. Afterward he opened LED Systems, where he continued his work with high-tech communications. Later, he joined VAC Corporation as the last post in his engineering career, where they designed and manufactured video communications equipment. One invention was a line-equalizing video distribution amplifier used in the film industry and at the Masters golf course, providing good quality video signals despite signal loss due to long cables. Jack was a huge fan of golf. He was a Saturday golfer throughout his career (weather permitting), and a weekday golfer after he retired. He volunteered for years as a golf referee with the Colorado Golf Association. He was also an avid bridge player and enjoyed playing with Clare and their friends. Moving to Colorado afforded him good opportunities for fly fishing and tying his own flies. After retiring, he and Clare built a home in the Indian Peaks neighborhood in Lafayette, CO. He built a model train in the basement and often walked to the golf course for exercise and his morning coffee. He and Clare enjoyed trips to their home states periodically, to Hawaii and especially to Scotland and the British Isles. Throughout his life as a parent, Jack was devoted to his children and supportive of their endeavors. He stopped short of making any decisions he felt his children were able to make, even resisting giving advice. As Clare's mobility declined, Jack was a patient and ever-present caregiver to his wife of 68 years. Jack is survived by his wife Clare, his daughter Bonnie (Glen), daughter Jan, son Jay, grandson Ryan, granddaughter Michelle, and great grandson Fox. A memorial service and reception will be held September 29, 3pm at the Indian Peaks Golf Course, 2300 Indian Peaks Trail, Lafayette, CO. Rest in peace, Dad.