[PADG:1765] John P. Baker, 1933-2002

[Wes Boomgaarden <boomgaarden.1@xxxxxxx>]

Colleagues:

The New York Times, national edition, page C17, July 16, 2002
published this too-brief obituary for John P. Baker:  ?John Philip
Baker, 69, of Lake Delaware, Delhi, New York and formerly of New York
City, passed away Friday, July 12 from ALS (Lou Gehrig?s Disease). 
Services will be at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, July 21 at Saint James Episcopal
Church, Lake Delaware.?

We offer the following addendum, which is also a too-brief tribute: 

John, or ?Phil? as he was known by many, was a leader in the development
and management of programs for the preservation of library
materials.  The son of Henry O. and Agnes (White) Baker, he was born
Jan. 23, 1933, in Belmont, Mass., and received a bachelor of arts degree
from Boston University in 1955, an MLS from Columbia University in 1965,
and an MA from New York University in1984.  

In 1972, John became Chief of the Conservation Division of the Research
Libraries, New York Public Library, and served in that capacity until his
retirement in 1994.  At NYPL he guided preservation and conservation
efforts in one of the nation?s largest and foremost programs.  John
was widely published on the topic of preservation administration in
libraries and archives.  He was widely admired for his mentoring of
many interns in preservation administration, including many Mellon
Interns, who in turn have become leaders in this field.   In
addition to his work at NYPL, he served proudly with the committees of
METRO, the New York Library Association, and the American Library
Association?s Preservation of Library Materials Section (PLMS), where he
was an elder statesman to the many enthusiastic young librarians involved
in the cause of preservation.  John became ill not long after his
retirement, and he lost his struggle with ALS last week.  


The Oneonta (NY) Daily Star?s obituary for Phil included the
following:  
?A member of St. James Episcopal Church in Lake Delaware, Phil was vice
chairman of the Parish Council, chairman of the recent Search Committee
and church archivist. He was also vice president and member of the Board
of Trustees of the Bovina Public Library, a longtime member of the
American Library Association, Beta Phi Mu fraternity, and Archons of
Colophon.  Surviving are his friend and companion, John F. Loseth of
Lake Delaware; a sister, Cleverly Weitemeyer of East Greenwich, R.I.; a
brother, Henry Baker of California; and several nieces, nephews, grand
nieces and grand nephews.  

?Services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at St. James Episcopal
Church in Lake Delaware, where a Requiem Mass will be celebrated by the
Rev. Jason Catania, assisted by the Rev. Ray L. Donahue, and burial will
follow in the Lake Delaware Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be
made in Phil's name to the St. James Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, Lake
Delaware.?

Wes Boomgaarden
Duane Watson