Philip Baker

BAKER
Philip Douglas Baker, resident of Franklin Lakes NJ for over 50 years, passed away on Friday, January 20, two months shy of his 90th birthday. The cause was pneumonia and congestive heart failure.
Born in Los Angeles in 1922, Phil and his younger brother Ken were raised in the Masonic Home for Boys after their mother died in 1928. He entered UCLA in 1940 and was a member of the varsity crew team. He joined the Naval ROTC, and served with the Marine Corps in the Pacific Theatre after his junior year, notably as an artillery forward observer in Iwo Jima. Having arrived in the first hour of the beach landing, he was wounded two days later, earning a Decorated Purple Heart and promotion to Captain. He graduated from UCLA in 1947 with a business administration degree, and then completed his MBA at UC Berkeley in 1948. He then worked as a financial analyst with the Marshall Plan in Germany for three years before returning to work on Wall Street. He joined the investment bank White Weld & Co in 1952, first in the foreign department, then syndicates, which he headed, and eventually corporate finance. He made partner in 1960 and rose to SVP in 1972 before retiring in 1975 (White Weld merged with Merrill Lynch in 1978). During his career, he was president of the Investment Bankers Association, board member of the Securities Industry Association, and member of The Bond Club of New York. He was a member of The Links Club, The Down Town Association, Kappa Beta Phi, Ridgewood Country Club, and later, Arcola Country Club. He also served as an adjunct professor at NYU's business school.
During and after his career, Phil was an active volunteer, including longstanding board memberships at Valley Hospital, West Bergen Mental Healthcare, and Valley Health Services, all in NJ. He served with the National Executive Service Corps, was president of Norman Vincent Peale's Institutes of Religion and Health, president of The Museum of the American Indian, and also worked with Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, Independent College Funds of America, and the New Jersey Botanical Gardens. Later in life, he was active with Berea College in Kentucky. He was a founding member of the Presbyterian Church at Franklin Lakes.
Phil met his wife, Cornelia Draves Baker, an artist, through a Marshall Plan colleague, and they married in 1955. They enjoyed a biking/camping honeymoon at Lake George, starting a 56 year old annual camping tradition the family continues to this day. They moved to Franklin Lakes in 1958, and when they sold their home in 2009 they were among the very last original owners in their Shadow Lake neighborhood. They traveled extensively during this time period and also hosted many foreign students in their home.
Phil was an accomplished tennis player, avid cyclist, talented woodworker, skillful photographer, and lifelong gardener. He was well known in his community for his daring high-altitude single-handed chainsaw tree-trimming techniques (it's a miracle this obituary wasn't written sooner!). He rarely wore socks, and preferred to go barefoot in most situations. He seldom made small talk, favoring in-depth conversations with friends, family, and strangers alike. Last but not least, he had a hearty laugh and uniquely radiant smile we will miss dearly.
Phil was predeceased by his brother Ken, and is survived by his wife of 56 years, Cornelia, as well as son Brinton, his wife Greta, granddaughters Nara and Emma (Accord NY), son Todd, his wife Beth, grandchildren Foster, Ellie, and Fred (New Canaan CT), daughter Claudia (Bloomingdale NJ), son Sam, his wife Collins, and grandsons Will and Jake (Port Chester NY).
A celebration of Phil's life will be held on Saturday March 31 at 3pm at the Presbyterian Church at Franklin Lakes, reception to follow.
Donations can be made to the Presbyterian Church at Franklin Lakes (730 Franklin Lakes Rd, Franklin Lakes NJ 07417) or Chilton Hospital (97 W Parkway, Pequannock Township NJ 07444).