JAMES BAKER

JAMES BAKER
May 02, 1939 - November 26, 2024
Dr. James Dennard Baker died unexpectedly at his home in Santa Fe on November 26 at the age of 85. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, tennis partner, and friend.
Known to his family and friends as Doc or Jim, he was born in San Angelo, TX on May 2, 1939 to Harmon Earhart and Clara Kennemer Baker. James moved to Odessa, Texas, where he graduated from Odessa High School in 1957, and married his high school sweetheart, Madalyn Boling Baker. Together, they shared a lifelong passion for tennis and 54 wonderful years of marriage until her passing. James attended the University of Texas where he earned a B.S. and M.S. in mathematics and received his Ph.D. in mathematics from Iowa State University. Together, he and Madalyn raised two sons, Russell and Lane.
James' extensive career in technology and research began in operations research at Honeywell in Burnsville, MN, for which he earned the H.W. Sweatt Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research and Engineering. He later worked as director of computer sciences research at Schlumberger in Ridgefield, CT and head of its computer-based engineering center in Austin, TX. There, he oversaw the design and construction of the award-winning Schlumberger Austin Systems Center. His career eventually drew him to California, where he took on the role of director in charge of the three information and computer sciences research laboratories at Lockheed Martin in Palo Alto.
James subsequently became founding president of Fuji Xerox's Palo Alto Laboratory (FXPAL), and ultimately chief executive officer and chairman of the company. During this time, FXPAL became a leader in multi-media research. Upon retiring from FXPAL, James assumed the role of director of the Integrated Media Systems Center for the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California.
In 2016, James put down roots in Santa Fe, NM, where he met Suzanne Barker. They were married, and together with Suzanne, James lived his life to the fullest. James followed his passions, actively pursued his intellectual interests, and worked hard on his goal to become a better tennis player. He developed a passion for telling stories through photography and co-authored two photography books: New Mexico's Pueblo Baseball League and Chica's Tales: Wild Animals in Santa Fe. James was a man who loved his family deeply. He was a humble gentleman and a man of strength and fortitude.
James is survived by his wife, Suzanne Barker of Santa Fe, NM; his son, Russell Baker and his partner Mark Corey of Santa Fe, NM; his son, Lane Baker and his husband Kevin Baker-Cross of Los Angeles, CA; his beloved granddaughter, Madalyn Baker-Cross, as well as many family and friends. A Celebration of Life will take place in Santa Fe sometime in 2025. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Dance Institute (NDI) of New Mexico: (505) 557-6044 or www.ndi-nm.org.