John Torrey Baird

John Torrey Baird, 76, husband of Ann (Dalrymple) Baird, died Tuesday, (November 13, 2001) at Hartford Hospital. Born in Orange, NJ, he was the son of the late Collier Whittemore and Dorothy (Norton) Baird. He graduated from Tabor Academy and Stevens Institute of Technology, and was a Navy veteran, serving in World War II in the South Pacific and later in the Korean Conflict. He was employed by the Pratt and Whitney Aircraft and Turbo Power and Marine Divisions of United Technologies, where he was involved in the Apollo Project and in work on the Coast Guard ice breakers, "Polar Star" and "Polar Sea". He was an avid skier and sailor and was a member of the Off Soundings and Thames Yacht Clubs. He enjoyed volunteering at Mystic Seaport as a teacher of small boat sailing and rowing and helped in restoration efforts on the schooner, "Brilliant". He leaves his wife, Ann; sons, John Torrey Baird of Belen, NM and Patrick Hayes Baird of McLean, VA; two daughters, Michelle Mathias of Lyndonville, VT and Ginger Wireman of Richland, WA; a step-daughter, Lynn Mueller of Lancaster, NH; and step-son, James Stanford of Bellingham, WA; a brother, Collier W. Baird, Jr. of Lebanon, NJ; and a sister, Dr. Dorothy Leib, of New London; eight grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by sisters, Priscilla Person and Louise Baird; and brother, William Norton Baird. A time of remembrance will be held Saturday, November 17, 2 p.m. at Glastonbury Funeral Home, 450 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury. Burial will be private. Contributions may be made to the "Small Craft Program in Memory of John T. Baird" at Mystic Seaport Museum, Development Department, 75 Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic, CT 06355.