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Eleftherios Baker Obituary
Eleftherios Peter Baker
Ted Baker, the son of impoverished Greek immigrants in West Virginia who earned his way into Harvard Law School and became a widely respected tax lawyer in Washington, died on April 5, 2023 at 84 after a brave struggle with lung cancer. He was lucky to spend his final months in his home in Williamsburg, VA., with his beloved wife Martha Baker by his side.
His full name was Eleftherios Peter Baker, but he was universally known as Ted, a name he picked up when his mother called him her little teddy bear. His was a classic American story. His parents, Peter and Argiro Baker, were Greek immigrants who fled Turkish oppression and arrived in America with little money or English but a fierce determination to make a better life. "Bakirtzoglous" became "Baker" and a new life began.
Raised in Huntington, WV, Ted became the first in his family to go to college, graduating from West Virginia University in 1959, Harvard Law in 1963 and Georgetown in 1968 with a master's in tax law. After two years in the Army, he moved to Washington, worked for the IRS, then joined Scribner, Hall & Thompson, specializing in tax law for insurance companies like Transamerica, Travelers, CNA and Aetna. One client called him "the Michael Jordan of the tax world."
He was a teddy bear to the end – a good soul, kind and gentle, generous to a fault with an infectious laugh, a loving spirit and a passionate devotion to Washington sports teams. A 54-year member of the U.S. Chess Federation, he loved show tunes and had an unlikely Vegas craps habit. A young friend described him as "a wonderful grandfather with a Santa Claus vibe."
In addition to Martha, he is survived by son Peter Baker and daughter-in-law Susan Glasser of Washington; daughter Karin Baker and daughter-in-law Kait Nolan of Burnaby, B.C., Canada; and grandson Theo Baker of Washington.
He will be buried in Indianapolis next to his cousin Daniel Baker, who was a brother to him. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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