Robert Fraser "Bob" Baird Jr.

1947 - 2022

Robert Fraser "Bob" Baird Jr.
Robert Fraser "Bob" Baird, Jr., age 75, of Stratford, CT, a long-time Brakettes General Manager, and a pillar of the local sports community, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 31, 2022, surrounded by his loving family.
Bob was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and loyal friend. He is survived by his beautiful wife of 51 years, Diana "Joy" (Halpine) Baird; daughter Lucy Baird-Stoddard (Owen) of Old Orchard Beach, ME, son Robert A. Baird (Moira) of Stratford, daughter Bridget Baird of Stratford, son Peter Baird (Megan) of Stratford, son Patrick (Carly) of Stratford, and daughter Samantha Baird of Bridgeport; sister Jane Baird (Laurie) of Stratford, sister Victoria Florek (John) of Stratford, sister Elizabeth Amato (Michael) of Orange, and sister Maryanne Champagne (James) of Milford; 15 grandchildren, and many close nieces and nephews.
"Bobby" was born on July 21, 1947, in Bridgeport, the first child of Robert Fraser Baird, Sr. and Marjorie Alice Baird (Barrett). After spending his early years on Seaview Avenue in the East End of Bridgeport, his family moved to the Lordship section of Stratford in 1951, where he lived for the rest of his life. He was a 1965 graduate of Stratford High School, and received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Bridgeport.
Bob began his work as a sportswriter while still in high school and was hired as the sports editor of the Stratford News in 1967. He started full-time at the Bridgeport Post and Telegram in 1969 and flourished there until 1988, when he went back to school to reinvent himself as a high school teacher. Bob won numerous sports writing awards for his coverage of the Raybestos Brakettes, as well as local Connecticut high school and college sports. He also wrote for the New York Daily News as their Fairfield County sports correspondent. During his time at the Post, Bob was well-known throughout Connecticut and beyond as an engaging and conversational writer, but his colorful antics were hardly confined to the pages. Bob's penchant for timely and off-the-cuff humor was legendary, and he could lighten the mood of any room he entered, if he wanted to.
Mr. Baird started his teaching and administrative career in 1990 at his first alma mater, Stratford High. After teaching social studies and civics for several years, he left to become the Assistant Athletic Director (and Director of Media Relations) at his other alma mater, University of Bridgeport. He soon became the Athletic Director at UB, a role he cherished greatly due to his family's deep Bridgeport roots. He stayed at UB until 1999, when he was offered the chance to return to his beloved Stratford High School for his dream job as the Athletic Director.
Bob was the Athletic Director at Stratford until January 2018, and treasured the time he spent walking the halls, pacing the gym, visiting practice fields, and making sure to watch each one of his teams compete in every season, all while chatting it up with students and teachers, players and coaches. He was old-school and by-the-books, honest and true, and fiercely devoted to his work and peers. There was simply nobody else like Bob Baird, and he was an unapologetic and wise-cracking entertainer throughout his daily work.
Bob's many coaching stops through his career revealed his amazing ability to work with all ages and levels. He coached softball at St. Joseph in Trumbull and Sacred Heart University, freshman football and girls basketball at Stratford High, as well as an early stop at Housatonic Community College, where he coached women's basketball and softball, winning a New England title in 1980.
He was perhaps most known for his 13 years (1994-2007) of coaching boys varsity basketball (7th and 8th grades) at St. James in Stratford, where he led the team to nine Bridgeport Diocesan Championships and three New England CYO titles.
Mr. B retired from Stratford High School in 2018 after beating acute myeloid leukemia, and was honored by his teaching and coaching colleagues, students, friends and family, at a joyous retirement dinner. Bob's new-found time gave him freedom for more getaways with his beloved Joy and family to Rhode Island, Disney World, and Old Orchard Beach, Maine.
Bob's "retirement" also allowed him more time and energy to invest in his other ventures, most notably as the long-time General Manager of the Stratford (Raybestos/Hi-Ho) Brakettes. He took over as GM prior to the 1988 season, and twice steered the efforts to save the franchise from extinction after the loss of major sponsors. The Brakettes won nine ASA National Titles and 12 WMS Championships with Bob serving as GM of the club. In his last several years with the team, Bob helped the Brakettes stabilize their finances through intensive grass-roots efforts and the creation of junior teams, while overseeing the effort to bring the Brakettes into the modern age. Bob is still very much revered within the women's fastpitch softball community as a leader and an innovator, an advocate and a friend.
Bob once again defeated leukemia this summer, after being diagnosed for the second time in March 2022. He continued to fight until the very end, well after his recent diagnosis with interstitial lung disease.
Friends may greet the family on Thursday, January 5, 2023 from 4-8pm at the Dennis & D'Arcy - Abriola & Kelemen Funeral Home, 2611 Main St., Stratford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 6, 2023 at 11am at Our Lady of Peace Church, 230 Park Blvd., Stratford. Burial will be privately held at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in New Milford, CT, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Bob Baird Memorial Scholarship, which will be given annually to a graduating senior from Stratford High School; or to a charity of your choice.
Donations may be sent to Bob Baird Memorial Scholarship, Milford Bank, 3651 Main Street, Stratford, CT, 06614
To offer the family condolences please visit www.dennisanddarcy.com