Paul "Morgan" Baker Ph.D.

Bonjour Papa! I can't believe it's been 10 years! How quickly time passes. I think of you all the time- you're a constant presence in my life. We all miss ya, pop.

Hi Sue,
Sorry for confusion - I wrote to you. I was married to Morgan. My email is [email protected]. Love to hear from you.

Hi Sue that was not me but I appreciated your comments very much.
The contact me isn't working so this is my [email protected]
Hope to hear from you

Hi Leslie? I think the last entry was from you, as it was directed to "Susan" and that's what the Bakers used to call me. If you want to be in touch, just access the contact me in my entry and we can communicate by email. Thanks! Sue

Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing. Are you in Canada now? I'd like to hear more about your skating days with Morgan. I loved watching him skate - he would go as fast as possible often leaving other skaters spinning in his wake. He loved it so. We had a wonderful (though far too short) life together and I miss him everyday. Carpe diem!

I have lived outside Canada for several years and only just learned of Paul/Morgan's death over 7 years ago, which saddens me. For a brief time, in our early teens, we were skating partners (both pairs and dance) - that ended when he dropped me on my head and I suffered a major concussion. This was NOT his fault (our timing was off), but I think it finished his interest in pair skating! Paul/Morgan was a really neat guy - and one of the smartest people I've ever met (as was his sister, Leslie). His parents were good friends of my mom and dad (Joe and Margie Greer), however we lost touch many years ago, as my parents died at a young age, as did Paul's dad. Theirs was an interesting and clever family - always spirited conversations when they were around! Reading the guest book, it doesn't surprise me that Paul/Morgan went on to a wonderful teaching career, whose classes had a significant and positive impact on his students. More importantly, he sounds like a fantastic partner and father - I am truly saddened that your time with him was cut short. I am sure, however, that your memories will remain vivid and strong throughout your lives. Although my condolences are very belated, they are certainly heartfelt.

Sup old guy? Tomorrow Des turns 3. You'd like him, kid's got rhythm. We have a set of drums in the corner, but no one to teach the boys to play... I show them what I can and tell them what I remember. Mostly I'm trying to give them something to remember, like playing catch in the yard, frisbee. G asks about you a lot and remembers ever detail of everything I tell him. Kid's got the Baker brain for sheezy. Dez is a budding engineer, C's got your ice blues; so far they're all scrawny like you (burn!). Lots in each to remind me of you every day. Later pops/gandi.

Im taking Sociology at MRU in Calgary & saw his name mentioned in my text I wanted to know more about Paul. Wish I knew him.

Wow. I was just looking professor Baker up to recommend one of his textbooks. I graduated in 2009 with my spouse at UVic. I began my degrees in computer science and my spouse in history but both promptly changed our degree after attending two of professor Baker's classes in our second year. Although quite late I am very saddened to learn of his passing, he was a very inspiring individual.

Feb 5, 2012....never forgotten. Loved forever.

Morgan was a friend and a mentor. He taught me how to teach, and always paid for than his share of the beer at the faculty club. He laughed loud and lived large. I will miss you, my friend.

You should see our Christmas tree! I wore my Santa hat all day.

I audited one of his classes because I want to learn more about sociology. Upon knowing my intention, Dr. Baker volunteered to be external adviser for my thesis. He gave me very good advises even though I am not in his department. I guess I missed my chance to say thanks and goodbye after my defense.

Rest in peace Dr. Baker. Thank you for your helps.

I audited one of his classes because I want to learn more about sociology. Upon knowing my intention, Dr. Baker volunteered to be external adviser for my thesis. He gave me very good advises even though I am not in his department. I guess I missed my chance to say thanks and goodbye after my defense.

Rest in peace Dr. Baker. Thank you for your helps.

I miss him too. Old friends will do that to you. I played the guitar he gave me at a show last night at The Railway. He lives on in our thoughts, conversations, and in our hearts. It's only been a year but it seems longer somehow.

Miss you Dad.

I was fortunate enough to have had Morgan Baker as a prof and Nick Baker as a friend.

Morgan Baker was one of my favorite professors at UVic. I especially enjoyed his class on Erving Goffman. He had such a good presence in the classroom. Very funny and passionate about what he was teaching.

I didn't realize how much he meant to me until I heard that he passed.

I just keep on missing him. It catches me off guard and takes my breath away.

I just learned today of Dr. Baker's passing and am deeply saddened by this tragic news. I had the pleasure of taking three classes with him and will always consider those to be the highlights of my time at Uvic. He was passionate, funny, understanding and brilliant. His lectures were not only informative, but entertaining. I have always said Dr. Baker was my all-time favourite teacher and I consider myself truly lucky to have known him, if only for a short time. Dr. Baker was one of a kind and the sociology department, and Uvic as a whole, will miss him greatly.

To Maureen, Kenedy, Harlyn, and to Gillian, Nick and John, and Leslie:

I learned only last week of Morgan’s passing in August. I cannot adequately express my sadness at this news, and my regret at not being able to spend just a little more time with him. I can only imagine how hard it has been for you who had Morgan with you on a regular basis to lose his physical presence in your lives.

My memories of Morgan go back to our early teens, at the winter club, where he was an accomplished skater, and in our junior and senior high school years in North Vancouver, where I remember him as a bit of a prankster. I think anyone from those years would also tell you that Paul was not only talented and very intelligent, he was already very much “his own man”.

I got to know Morgan better in the early 90s after I moved to Victoria. By then, he was in his forties, well along in raising his children, and well-established at UVic. For all his success, he was still the same person I remembered from high school - unassuming, thoughtful and good-natured, and with the same very enjoyable sense of humour. He was just really easy to be around.

Morgan came to see me in July of this year, and told me about his situation. He was characteristically matter-of-fact about the cards he had been dealt, and thankful that he had lived to see his children grow into productive adults. His main concern was that he had provided properly for Maureen. We planned to meet again, but obviously he left us sooner than I or anyone else expected.

It was my pleasure and good fortune to know Morgan. No doubt, as he wished, we will all go on living our lives, but always with fond thoughts for a good man, gone from our midst too soon.

Morgan, I will need a friend in the next life, and I will definitely look you up. We still have things to talk about. Until then, adios, amigo.

have i written yet? i forget, but everyday something reminds me of you. i'm having the same problem i did in your class, always trying to write something impressive, huge. all i've got though is i wish you were here and we could go for a ride in (the-soon-to-be-)my challenger and laugh about the old beater monte carlo. we should have done long beach...

Dr. Baker was the best Sociology professor I had at UVic! I looked forward to seeing him walk into class in his skate shoes, colored denim jeans and flannel shirts! I always walked out of the classroom with a grin on my face, he was clearly born to teach! I saw him in his garden this past spring but I didn't go and say hello, I thought maybe he wouldn't remember me, I gave him a smile and he smiled back... A lovely man, I know that Sociology at UVic won't be the same without him!
Love to his family, whom he talked about almost every day, he was very proud of you all!

Dad would have been 60 today.
Happy Birthday Dad! We are all thinking about you. We miss you more than you could know. I watched the sunrise this morning for you.
Love Gill

Pops,

We had a great party in your honour. You wouldn't believe it, but Nick brought McEwans and we both had one for you. Miss you, Dad...

Love John

Morgan, I knew him when he was Paul too, has left a huge hole in the department. His willingness to speak his mind when no one else would distinguished him and his memory. He refused to be silenced - bravo! We can all learn from his example. Condolences to his family and friends says far too little for the contribution he has made to the lives of many.

It was a pleasure to have worked with Morgan. He was so nice and kind to me from day one when I joined in as part of the admin. staff in the department. I loved his sense of humour, the little spunk he had in his walk and his love for hockey, often telling us to leave work early to go home to catch a game that was on tv.
My condolences to Maureen and family.

I am saddened to learn of Morgan's passing. Though he taught me only one course at UVic (and I am very thankful to him for giving me one of the very few A+s I received there), I felt that we were comrades. He was about the same age, we both had longish hair and even cut our hair short within weeks of each other (coincidence?), and probably most significantly, we were both musicians. I was really pleased when Morgan came to a music party at my place while I was still a student. Good memories. He was at once a warm fellow and cool dude. It's such a drag that we can't make new memories with him. My best to you who knew Morgan and loved him.

I send my deepest sympathy to Maureen and the family. This happened way too early for Paul. I have many memories of Paul at the house in North Vancouver. Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Bruce had a pool in their yard and I thought that was so cool. Paul and my brother and I had many fun times in the pool and the sauna! He was a fun loving guy and we had many happy times there. I also remember him at the ice rink doing his skating and admiring it as I could hardly skate at all! Paul was lucky to have his loving family all around him and I am sure that he is looking down on all of us and will give us some kind of sign if we don't enjoy all our lives to the max! Till we meet again Paul.

Maureen, Gillian, and John, you are the only survivors I'm met, and I wish to extent my deep sympathies for your loss. Morgan was my first PhD advisee and he was also my most brilliant. He completed his graduate degrees in a record time. Although I did not keep in close contact with him over they years, he came out to Minnesota and gave a talk at my retirement party 4 years ago. I talked with him several times by phone toward the end. His spirit was remarkably unbeat, but I would expect that of him. He loved to write such that he startled people's routine thinking and his obituary continued that tradition. He was a great human being and we will miss him.

I will miss Morgans smiling face and relaxed demeanor at the "Club". It was always a bright spot in my day when he would walk in and we would talk about the latest goings on in our lives. And besides that who is gonna drink all the "Stout" that we brought in. He will be missed. RIP

Maureen: Ana and I are still reeling from the news of Morgan's death. You're in our hearts and thoughts. Many of our wonderful memories of Victoria include the times we spent with you, Morgan and Kenedy. Take care.

Good morning Grandpa Morgan,
Just want you to know that Yellow Submarine was on Sirius this morning and I knew all the words - it will always be our song.
Love Harlyn Ivory
xo

I was shocked to learn from a neighbor today of Paul's passing. He served on my dissertation committee 15 years ago at UVic and was thoroughly pleasant, generous, helpful, playful and lighthearted. He helped to make my defense a happy experience rather than a dreary one. A genuine loss to the school, the discipline he served, future students, certainly to his family, and to the world in general. My deepest condolences.

Maureen

We just learned of Morgan's passing. We are thinking of you and Kennedy and know your happy years together with Morgan will somehow sustain you through. He sounded like a very inspirational person who made a real difference in the people around him. His memory will be carried by many.

Larry and Shar Woolsey

Thank you Kirsten,but let Morgan speak for himself. Read his chapter on "Socialization after Death: The Might of the Living Dead" in Growing Old in America (4th edition, 1991), edited by B. Hess & E. Markson. It's in the UVic library. As a matter of fact, I gave a copy of this article to Victoria Hospice, suggesting that their counsellors would probably find it helpful. And while we're at it, let's all give Gillian a belated birthday present and support her ride for her dad to conquer cancer.

Dad, I keep expecting you to call - it's my birthday! I miss you. I am so happy to read these messages to you, to us, and about you. I am proud to be your daughter and so glad you were MY dad.

Hi Maureen,
Rod & Jan told me your very sad news. Although I only met Morgan once(at your wedding) Rod tells me the more time he spent with him, the more he enjoyed and appreciated Morgan. That and the fact that he snagged a cool lady like yourself is validation enough for me. I am so sorry for your loss Mo, and I hope your memories of the good times can get you through the sad times. You are in our thoughts....your friend Doug Morris

Right you are, Dr. Hedley. Dr. Baker's 'social life-span' will continue as long as the impact of his extraordinary sociological insight, humour and warmth is remembered by those who knew him - students, colleagues, family and friends. His classroom was a place where it was OK not just to like sociology, but to delight in it. Thanks, Morgan!

I am shocked to hear of the passing of such an amazingly spirited, kind man. Morgan was a true inspiration to me. His open-mindedness and willingness to explore issues to which he had no personal relation was astounding. He was not only a brilliant teacher, but also always ready to learn from others. I feel privileged (he would understand the ironic tone with which I use this word) to have worked with him on publications, to have had him as a thesis supervisor and, most importantly, to have had him as a friend. I send my deepest of condolences to his family and his plethora of friends and fans alike.

Maureen, we are so sad to hear of your loss; we have heard from many mutual acquaintances how happy you and Morgan have been.You are in our thoughts and prayers, margaret kirwan, david biltek.

Morgan was one of my closest advisors at UVic. He was a great professor and a true educator. He thought sociology had cool ideas and simply wanted to share them with you.

Morgan taught my first sociology course at UVic (an inspired class that instilled in me a passion for social theory). He also taught my last sociology course at UVic (a brilliant graduate seminar on Goffman). He had great patience for my youthful outbursts, interpreting it as enthusiasm rather than disruption. That patience helped me to lower my voice, and beyond a friendly student-professor relationship, we became friends. He was part of my transformation from high school drop out to Princeton PhD student. I owe him much gratitude. I wish I’d gotten a chance to jam with him.

As his (not much) older sister, I always knew Morgan was special (including changing his name from the somewhat wimpy birth name of Paul in his forties)but I am grateful for the wonderful, caring, and funny comments. His love for music began early, and he was talented - though not so much when learning to play the drums at 13!
Love him, Leslie

Morgan, I am going to miss you. As a teacher you were confident enough to allow yourself to take risks (coming to class in make-up) and as a colleague, was always willing to have a beer and talk "strategy".

I want the family to know how sorry I am and that Morgan really made a difference in my life.

And yes, there will be a glass on wine (beer in my case) hoisted in his honour.

Mr. Baker was one of the few professors that I enjoyed during my experience in the Sociology program at UVic. He was committed and always was there for his students. He let us take the reins with respect to our term papers and was even supportive when we (I) was late turning it in. The was the (Goff)man!!!

My condolences to his family.

Truly a joy to work with...and memorable! His skateboard-stickered door is already missed. I can remember sorting through his teaching evaluations and one student had written "cool shoes"...that sums up Morgan.

So sad, but I know he is a better place and will be happy to be with those that precided him in our family. Nothing but great memories of cousin Paul (he was always Paul to us) going back to those early times in North Vancouver (and a few weddings along the way - right Leslie ha ha) He will be greatly missed.

Morgan transformed Sociology from something I was interested to something I was passionate about. If it wasn't for his classes I'm not sure I would have made it through my degree. His enthusiasm and humour made all the difference.
My heart goes out to his family and he will be sorely missed.

We are so sorry for the lost of this great man. Although we knew him briefly, and at parties (but there is nothing wrong with that either,) we were charmed and fascinated by his intellect and joie de vie. We feel privileged to have met him. Our condolences to Morgan's family - Glen and Louise Kennedy

As others have noted, Professor Baker was not only a great guy, but also a fabulous professor. During my undergrad at the University of Victoria I went out of my way to enroll in his classes as he possessed an unsurpassed talent of engaging and inspiring his students, no matter what subject he taught.

As requested, I will plant a tree in memory of Professor Baker. I imagine that with so many fans and friends, a forest of trees will be planted.

At first I thought this was a joke. I can't believe he is gone. Professor Baker was not only "cool", friendly and an inspiring porofessor to all those lucky to take one or more of his classes ( I did ) but also made you feel understood, made you laught always but most of all I will remember how kind he was to those students whose's homes are far away just like mine. Mr. Baker tried always his best Spanish to communicate with me and I appreciated. He will be missed and I know I will remember him forever!

Mr. Baker (As he will always be known) had an extraordinary approach to life and to learning. His candor and sense of humour set him apart from any other professor I have known and I think it is those qualities that he will be remembered for, always.

Sad news. Dr. Baker was a wonderful professor and a kind man. I was pleased to have known him if only for a short time.

I think all of us will remember the impact he had on us, no matter how small.

Morgan certainly had a rare approach which will be missed. He knew what to take seriously (and occasionally responded in kind) and what to mock. I loved his combination of humour, practicality and intelligence.

Morgan Baker was the best professor I had at UVic. I would actively seek out his classes when planning my schedule. My deepest condolences.

"I'm a Baker but I don't do cupcakes."

"You know when you're sitting at a wedding, drinking wine, and thinking about Sociology?"

Morgan often talked about "the might of the living dead." The comments in this guest book are testament to what he meant: We are not dead while there are those still living who remember us. Live on Morgan!
A really great way to keep Morgan's memory alive would be to support Gillian in her ride for her dad to conquer cancer. Go Gilli!

I can't think of a more supportive proffessor and a great friend. He had energy, charisma, a great attitude towards teaching. He knew how to have a great time while teaching because that is what makes learning interesting. One of my most fondest memories of being in his class, was when he wrote on the chalk board for everyone to add me to their facebook. I don't know of a single proffessor that would even think of trying to have a laugh like that. He had all the right things to say and he knew how to get you to think about life and the sociological realm. I don't think Sociology at UVic will ever be the same again. Morgan, you're gonna be missed bro. My heart goes out to his family.

we were shocked to learn of Morgan's illness and more shocked at his passing. We will miss his quiet dry humor and generosity at future family gatherings. Maureen, you are in our thoughts and our hearts. All our love, Larry and Pauline

To my Girl Gillie and her family,
I am sorry to hear of the passing of Morgan. The few times that I had the opportunity to spend time with him I was always thinking. I remember picking him up on the side of the highway one day when he took the train up to visit and was walking to your house from the train station!
Love, Lisa

Pops,
I am so proud of all you have done in your wonderful life. You will be missed, but wonderful memories will live on in my heart forever. May you rest in peace.

Much Love,
John

My heart goes out to you Maureen (and Family). I known we have not seen each other in a number of yours. I have keep up through my Mom (Ada). The stories were often happy and with cute endings. Thank you for sharing them and I hope you will continue to share your memories of Morgan and future events. Again my heart is trembling for you at this time.
Love your cousin

Paul Morgan Baker was already a professor at UVIC when I arrived to do my Masters. I recall one September first day of class when, only a few years older than most of his students, he wore a Mickey Mouse t-shirt to teach on the first day of class.

Paul/Morgan provided a strong role model to the graduate students as a researcher who truly engaged with his work - identity was a recurring theme. He offered practical advice to the students about their research - including such gems as "just get it done".

We enjoyed having Paul and his family as Fernwood neighbours. There were lots of kids around the big house on the hill and I fondly remember attending a kitchen party in that old house.

To all the family members, I offer my most sincere condolences. Your Paul Morgan Baker was a very special person to many people.

I would like to say having known Paul/Morgan all his life, I will miss him. He was always a kind person and interested in what was going on in my life. I can laugh, thinking back to when he was a young man, and cry for what has now happened to end his life. The music, the drums, the interesting things he did, all are good times. Becoming a Professor was so wonderful for him, as he proved to be so good at it.
He will be missed of course, by his immediate family but also as his Aunt Jerry , I am so glad the pain is gone now for him. I will think of him often.

Morgan had a great sense of humour that made me love him more everytime I met him, I was so glad he came into my Aunt's life and therefore our family. I wish I could have had him as my sociology prof. As soon as I can I will have a glass of wine and toast to him!

I've known "Mo" since the 70s, when I was his secretary & typed his PhD thesis. We kept in touch over the years, & I was shocked to hear the news. I guess I thought he was one of those people who would live to 100, and be just as cool then. The world has lost a unique treasure, and I know the stars are shining brighter. My condolences to you all.

If there was a RateMyFriends page, Paul Morgan Baker would get full stars from me. I'm glad we got to talk matter-of-factly about his impending death. He taught me that you can approach your own end the same way you live. In Morgan's case, that means with humour, no drama for the sake of drama, directness, and concern for his family.
I'll miss you my oldest friend. But I'm happy knowing you knew you had it all going for you, right up to the last chapter.

Morgan, or as I knew him, Paul, was my favourite prof at UVic. His humour, creativity, spontaneity, and delight in challenging convention were a huge inspiration to me. To the world at large his loss is incalculable. The loss to his family is unimaginable.

My deepest, sincerest condolences.