Adolph A. Baker Jr.

Baker, Adolph A. Jr.

Rochester: Passed peacefully Sunday, November, 13, 2011 at age 88 with his loving wife of 31 years, Patricia Hanley at his side. He is predeceased by his sister, Mary. He is survived by his children, Pascha (Craig) Campbell, Holly Muller, Victor Baker, Paul Baker, John (Lin) Baker; 7 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Harry Baker, Beth Hokanson, Stella Myott, Bill Baker; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Adolph A Baker was born in Butte, Montana to Adolph and Hazel Baker. The family spent time between Butte and the family homestead outside Butte where his father ran a sawmill. He worked with his father on the ranch and in the Anaconda copper mines in Butte.

He served in the US Army stateside during World War II working on quality control for the Radio-Proximity Fuse at Walter Reed Hospital. He received the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Award, and the World War II Victory Award.

Adolph was a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, received his Master's Degree from the University of Rochester and attended Montana School of Mines, North Georgia College, University of Florida-Gainesville, University of Pittsburgh, and Colgate Rochester Divinity School.

Employed by Stromberg-Carlson in Rochester from 1951 to 1970, he was an engineer of special industrial telephone equipment. Adolph was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a senior member of the IEEE, and was awarded seven U.S. patents on electronic equipment. Working on clocks had been a hobby for many years and became his full-time business after leaving Stromberg-Carlson, setting up Adolph Baker Clock Repair in 1972.

Adolph was a lay minister licensed by the Parsells Avenue Baptist Church of Rochester, NY. He served as a supply minister in many area churches, including extended assignments as interim pastor at Farmington Friends Meeting House, Williamson Baptist, Ontario Center Congregationalist, Le Roy Presbyterian and North Bergen Presbyterian.

Over the years, he was an active member of four American Baptist Churches - Parsells, Immanuel, Webster, and First Baptist of Rochester- taking on leadership roles and serving on the American Baptist Churches of the Rochester/Genesee Region Permanent Council on Ordination.

In his spare time, Adolph served as a volunteer member of the Speakers Bureaus of the American Red Cross and the Rochester Community Chest. He was also a generous blood donor, received the Ten Gallon Award, and was an early research volunteer and donor in the leukapheresis program.

Adolph's Memorial Service will be celebrated Saturday, November 26th at 2 PM at the First Baptist Church of Rochester, 175 Allens Creek Road. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be directed to the First Baptist Church of Rochester or to the American Red Cross.