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Clare Baker Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Clare Baker
13 Entries
August 26, 2010
Dear Emmaleen: My sincere condolences to you and your family. I heard of Clares passing on the CBC the other night. He was a special person who touched many lives and made this world a better place. Sandra Berg
Jim Mumby
August 26, 2010
I want to express the condolences of our family to your family. We are Jehovah's Witnesses and we view Dr Baker as a man of action, great integrity and fellow feeling.
My brother George Mumby walked into his office without an appointment 28 years ago and expressed a wish to see Dr Baker because he had a heart problem. He had several blocked arteries and needed a bypass but other doctors would not consider it without a blood transfusion. Dr Baker, saw him, diagnosed the situation and arranged for immediate bypass surgery. This happened within 2 – 3 days. The surgery was very successful. My brother is still alive and doing well at the age of 81.
Truly a kind, caring doctor and a great man! Very much appreciated! We thank you his family for the support you gave him during the long hours he worked every day.
August 24, 2010
My mother, Trudie Kelly, had heart surgery performed by Dr. Baker in the late 1970s at St. Mike's. She had 4 valves replaced successfully. She passed away 6 years ago - not of heart problems. I remember when Dr. Wilson & our family admonished Mum for still smoking (in the kitchen at St. Mike's during her recovery with the cleaning staff!), my Mum exclaimed, "But Dr. Baker smokes so I'm not giving it up either!" And she didn't and that was not the cause of her passing either! Such a great man. Mum spoke so highly of him all her life. Saying a prayer for him today.
August 21, 2010
My name is Chuck Goodvin. I'm the chairman of the Greater Toronto Hospital Liaison Committee for Jehovah's Witnesses. While I never personally met Dr. Baker, I certainly am well aware of the pivotal role he played in the providing of complex cardiac surgical solutions for Jehovah's Witness patients while respecting their prohibition on blood transfusions. Dr. Baker's acceptance of these challenges and his successes speak to more than his preeminent skills as a surgeon but also his compassion, respect for his fellowman, and his courage in pushing boundaries. He was known by us to always treat our community with great care and respect.
As a minister, I laud him as the epitome of the human healer and thank him for his services to our particular population.(Hebrews 6:10)
Our sincere condolences to the family.
Martin Barkin
August 19, 2010
Dear Emmaleen and Family Carol and I were so sorry to hear about Clare's passing. He started as my teacher, then became my mentor and then one of my dearest friends. We hunted together in Saskatchewan and at Goodwood. I regarded him as the most skilled surgeon I had ever had the honour of working with and I treasured his teaching all my surgical career.
The world has lost a great surgeon and I have lost a wonderful friend.
Carol and Martin Barkin
August 16, 2010
Dear Emmaleen and Family,
Clare made me feel welcome from the start of my career at St Mike's and was a wonderful friend and colleague.
Patty and I send our sincere condolences.
Ron Fenton
John, Patricia Wilson
August 13, 2010
Dear Emmaleen and Family
The day has to come when we lose a loved one. Clare has been to all of us an outstanding individual, quietly going about using the skills that God gave him to help so many, - I can truly vouch for that, having been a close colleague in the Cardiology Division at St. Michael's Hospital for nearly 35 years.
He has had a good length of life and during that time Clare and Emmaleen have been a great example of family life and love. He will be missed by you Emmaleen, by your boys, daughters in law, and grand daghters. May you long remember him with great love and admiration.
With our deepest sympathy
Tom Hanny
August 12, 2010
Dear Emmaleen and Family
I am desperately looking for words to tell you how sorry I amto hear Clare's passing. I knew somehow that this day would come, but it is hitting me harder than I ever imagined.
My relationship with him was both professional and personal. He was my friend, mentor and in my earlier years gave me directions in my professional development.
I recall, during my early years as a resident in general surgery, he advised me that if I wanted pursue the specialty of cardio thoracic surgery I would be better served if I did my general surgery residendy in another established university center.
I could write volumes about his character, personality above all his professional achievements.
He was a tough task master, but very fair in dealing with all who he has worked with.
His personality, humor, directness will be missed for ever.
Jo-Ann and I very much saddened of his passing.
Tom and Jo-Ann Hanny. Glastonbury, Connecticut.
August 11, 2010
I was very sadened to hear of the passing of Dr. Baker. My deepest sympathies and condolences go to Mrs. Baker and family.
Ron Millman
Terrill Theman
August 11, 2010
Dear Emmaleen,
I was saddened to hear of the passing of your husband, Dr. Clare Baker. I was one of Dr. Baker's former surgical residents (in the 1970s), and he exerted a powerful influence on me and my surgical training. Clare Baker was economical in both speech and surgery, never using more than was necessary, a trait that I have found difficult to emulate. His expectations for the Resident Staff were high, and we strived daily to meet them.
In 1973 I was fortunate to travel to Hungary and Yugoslavia on a surgical/humanitarian mission with Dr. Baker's team. The work was hard and most fulfilling, and those weeks left indelible memories. Dr. Baker's teaching and his impeccable surgical technique made a powerful impression upon those we visited.
I remember him as a gruff and taciturn individual, yet one who had a wonderful sense of humour and a generous and caring nature. I am certain that his family misses him terribly, but they should take solace in the wonderful and meaningful life that he lived.
You have my deepest sympathy.
David Latter
August 11, 2010
Dr. Baker pioneered the Cardiac Surgery program at St. Michael’s Hospital, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at St. Michael’s Hospital from 1953-1990. He was a tremendous leader, innovator and mentor to many of our present day cardiac surgeons. His clinical excellence remains a legacy for St. Michael’s to follow. We remember an avid outdoorsman fishing and hunting with his dogs. He had a great sense of humour and a large capacity for kindness and generosity. Truly a man bigger than life from Biggar Saskatchewan.
Our deepest sympathies to his wife Emmaleen and family.
Division of Cardiac Surgery
St. Michael’s Hospital
August 11, 2010
Peter Osborne and the MD Physician Services team would like to express our deepest condolences to the family.
James Waddell
August 11, 2010
Dear Emmaleen:
I was saddened to hear of Clare's passing. As you know we had a long history together at St. Michael's Hospital and although he and I had our differences at times he was always a great supporter of mine in advancing the Department of Surgery at St. Michael's Hospital.
We saw each other infrequently after his retirement but I always enjoyed his company.
His passing really does bring to a close an era as he was the last of the surgical pioneers at St. Michael's developing subspecialties in surgery.
Please accept my condolences on his passing.
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