Anthony Stanley "Tony" Baran

1923 - 2013

Anthony Stanley Baran, the son of George and Mary (Lefko) Baran, was born on April 12, 1929 near Springboro, Penn. Anthony passed away peacefully at home in rural Randolph, surrounded by his loving family on Jan. 30, 2013 at the age of 83.
Tony attended a one-room schoolhouse from grades 1-8, a humble but beautiful structure built with stained glass windows and a grand bell tower, and which was lit with kerosene lights.

He graduated from Springboro High School, Springboro, where his favorite subjects were physics, math and basketball. He helped carry his basketball team to win the district basketball championship his senior year. During this time as a gift to his parents, Tony installed running water and indoor plumbing in the family farmhouse. Woodworking and problem solving projects would remain lifelong passions.

Tony and his brother Ted farmed together for one year following Tony's high school graduation. Tony then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to a position in the Interior Communications School, graduating first in his class. He served aboard the U.S.S. Kermit Roosevelt, sharing a bunk with the ship's gyrocompass and spending three years travelling in and around Japan, Korea and New Zealand.

In 1953, Tony enrolled at Pennsylvania State University Behrend Center, Erie, Penn. where he studied for one year. He then transferred to the university's main campus, where in 1958 he received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. During his college years, he developed a deep love for golf, downhill skiing and amateur radio.

After graduation, Tony took graduate courses at the Newark College of Engineering, Newark, NJ. He was with Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Research for several years, helping to develop some of the first aircraft jet engines, and following this held multiple positions within RCA and later Thomson. At RCA he was employed at the Astro-Electronic division where he was manager of the space and satellite environmental facilities used in testing weather and surveillance satellites and equipment for manned missions to the moon. Cameras that were used to photograph man stepping on the moon, and which remain there to this day, had been in his hands months earlier. At the RCA In-Field Research Laboratory, Tony helped to advance television technologies, and was awarded several patents related to early barcode developments, high-precision picture tube manufacturing, and innovations for making televisions more flat. His work took him to Mexico, France, Poland and Italy, where he conducted glass purity studies and spearheaded international committees aimed at improving picture tube performance.

Tony served his community as Vice-Chairman of the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers, West Palm Beach, FL; a member of the Washington Township Board of Education, Robbinsville, NJ; and Chairman of the Washington Township Planning Board, Robbinsville, NJ. He was an active member of the American Society of Testing Materials, the American Rocket Society and the American Radio Relay League. He was founder and advisor of the Lancaster, PA chapter of the Young Astronauts of America; coach of the Sacred Heart Elementary School Boys Basketball Team; judge for the Sacred Heart School Science Fair; and President of the Quadrille Formal Dance Club. He was an active member of St. Gregory the Great Church, Hamilton Square, NJ; St. Leo the Great Church, Rhorerstown, PA; Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Lancaster, PA; and St. Patrick Church, Imogene. He was also an active member of the Knights of Columbus, holding the position of Third Degree Knight.

Preceding Anthony in death were his parents, sister Margaret Nogee, brother-in-law Frank Nogee, sister Helen Finnucan, brother-in-law John Finnucan, brother Theodore Barron, sister-in-law Rose (Lombardo) Barron, brother-in-law Willard Johnson and brother-in-law John Thomas. Surviving are his spouse of 35 years Mary Patricia (Doyle) Baran and two children, Dr. Thomas Anthony Baran of Somerville, MA and Dr. Mary Catherine Lally and husband Thomas of Rochester, MN; his former spouse Elizabeth (Meissner) Baran of Princeton, NJ and two children, Christopher George Baran and wife Tama (Vail) of Hamilton Square, NJ and Kimberly Ann Steinnagel of Princeton, NJ. His grandchildren and great grandchildren are Margaret Lally, Nellie Baran, Tessa Baran, Juliette Baran, Geoffrey Walker, Kyle Steinnagel, Kassie Steinnagel and her daughters Delyla and Jocelyn, Marina Thorne and Kristian Steinnagel. He is also survived by sister Elizabeth Johnson of Martinsville, VA, sister Genevieve Thomas of Fairview, PA and brother William Barron and wife Sophie (Pakora) of Pittsburgh, PA. His surviving brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law are Michael Doyle and wife Debra (Dacut) of Mesa, AZ, Judith (Doyle) Wischik and husband Irving of Cranbury, NJ, Catherine (Doyle) Fahey and husband John of Litchfield, CT, John Doyle and wife Dixie (Trively) of Tabor, IA, James Doyle and wife Melonie (Blackburn) of Randolph. Anthony is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

Mass of Christian Burial Services were held on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013 at the St. Patrick Catholic Church with Father Thomas Kunnel officiating. Burial followed in the Mount Calvary Cemetery. The rosary was recited on Sunday afternoon at the church at 2 p.m. followed by visitation with the family and a formal prayer service.
Memorials may be directed to the St. Patrick Catholic Church Building Fund or the Randolph Fire and Rescue. Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.