Chapter 69 - Final Chapter (C.A. Baker Jr - 1942-2019)

My name is Geoffrey Baker.

I am the youngest son of Charles A Baker Jr., the author of this blog. I am writing the final chapter in my father's blog.

My father passed away on  January 17th, 2019. It is my pleasure to share his life story with each of his followers and others who stumbled upon his blog.

I hope you enjoyed this blog as much as my father enjoyed writing it. He was very proud of his blog and the number of unique visitors each day. A bragging point for a retiree.

Charles A Baker Jr. (Dad) is survived by Kathleen M. Baker his wife of 50 years, two sons (Charlie A Baker III and Geoffrey S Baker), grandson (Cory A Baker) and two sisters (Anne Fanton and Joan Baker).

Here is his story in my words.

Charles A Baker Jr. was born in Buffalo, NY on May 30th, 1942. He was the first child and only son to Charles A Baker Sr. and Marian Coapman Patterson. You can read about the life of his mother on this blog.

Charles Sr. and Marian had two daughters (Anne and Joan) to complete their family of five.

Charles with sister Anne - 1948

Dad grew up in Niagara Falls, NY and when he was 15 years old his family relocated to Lewiston Heights, NY.

Dad attended high school at Bishop Ridley College Preparatory school in St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada.

During high school Dad was an avid athlete and a member of the rugby, football and gymnastic teams.

He graduated high school in 1960 and was accepted into Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Both of Dad's parents went to Cornell.

Dad's mother's family owned a cottage in Perry Sound Canada. Dad visited the cottage every year in his youth and often shared many great memories of the cottage with his family.

Cottage at Crane Lake with Father - 1958

During summer breaks from college, Dad would come home and work with his father at his construction company named Wright and Kremers. Dad worked as a time keeper during the completion of the Niagara power plant project.

Dad - College Years 

Dad graduated Cornell university in 1964. He started his professional career working with his father at Wright and Kremers where he bid construction projects.

On May 9th, 1969 he married my mother  Kathleen Mahar. My brother (Charles A Baker III) was born on November 26th, 1969.

Dad's young family purchased their first home on Cayuga Island in Niagara Falls.

On December 29th, 1971 I was born in Lewiston, NY.

Dad's mother Marian Baker passed away in February of 1973. This was devastating to my father.

My brother and I were too young to remember her, but dad always told us about her. He loved his mother very much and it came through in the great stories he shared with our family.

Dad with his Mother - 1971

Dad helping with Christmas Gifts - 1975

Dad loved Christmas time, especially when my brother and I were young. Every year Mom and Dad were sure to buy my brother and I very thoughtful and amazing gifts. They would go out of their way and spend more than they could afford to ensure we were happily surprised. Everything from the best sleds, full train sets, drum sets, bicycles, multiple motor scooters and more.

Dad continued to work with his father at Wright and Kremers for the next 10 years. He learned a lot from his father and became the vice president of Wright and Kremers. During his tenure he helped design and construct Art Park in Lewiston, NY.

Our family moved from Cayuga lake to a larger home in the Deveaux area in Niagara Falls.

In 1981, his father Charles Sr. retired from Wright and Kremers and my dad took over the business.

Around this time, his lifelong friend Francis Williams was relocating his demolition business to Tampa, Fl.

The two friends got together and decided to merge the companies. Dad now worked for Kimmins corporation. The headquarters moved to Tampa and so did our family.

Since my brother and I were still in school, we had to wait until the summer break to move to Tampa. During this time, Dad traveled between Tampa and Lewiston and eventually found a home in the town and country area of Tampa where we would move.

Dad in Kimins Office - 1984

He worked extremely long hours and 6 days a week to ensure the new company in Tampa would be successful.

Dad would leave the house by 5 AM and not return home until after 7 PM. Although he must have been so tired, he always had time to help me and my brother with our homework.

He was a great provider to our family and always ensured we had what we needed to succeed.

In 1983, Dad led the Kimmins general contracting division. This business earned revenues between 20-30 million per year. He was instrumental in building out over 2000 apartment units across several different complexes in the Tampa area.

Kimmins decided to start a new waste business. Dad would be the president of the new business. The name of the business was TransCor Waste Services. Dad took an idea of adding a waste division to Kimmins and built it into a state-wide solid waste transfer and pickup business. Dad competed with giants in the industry and took the company public in the late 80's.

Dad was an expert at building businesses. He took Kimmins and Transcor from a few employees to over 1000. Revenues went from zero to over 100 million in the course of a decade.

Life was good but very busy, he rarely had time outside of work. My grandfather rented different destination vacations each summer. Dad would always find the time to visit his father and step mother on these vacations.

Dad Visiting Father in St. Thomas VI - 1992

Dad left Kimmins Corp. in 1996 and decided to go back to the construction business. Dad and Mom relocated to Savannah GA. Dad worked with a construction company named NorSouth.

Dad loved Savannah, he and Mom rented a historic home on Troupe Square in historic downtown Savannah. The home was featured in the 1997 movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Savannah Rental - 1997

Mom and Dad lived in the rental for a year and decided to purchase a home instead of renting. They purchased a home on a golf course on Skid Away Island.

Dad's father passed away in August of 2000. The family met in Niagara Falls for his funeral and wake.

His father was survived by his wife Chris Baker.

A few weeks after the death of his father, Dad's first and only grandchild was born.

The picture below is my father with his sisters after his father's passing. The house in the picture is the house he moved into in 1955.

Dad with Anne and Joan - 2000

In 2000, Dad decided it was time to reap the rewards of his years of hard work. Dad retired shortly after his father passed away.

NOW THE FUN STARTS !!!

He purchased a 37 foot RV to travel the country with my Mom. This new toy was his pride and joy. They were to live full time in this RV as they traveled the US, Canada and Mexico.

The highlight of their excursions was  taking the RV down the Baja peninsula to Cabo San Lucas. What an adventure, Dad worked hard, now he was ready to play hard.

Living full time in an RV proved to be tough life for Mom. After much time full of RV adventures, they decided to sell the motor home and purchase a condo closer to their children.

Mom and Dad bought a condo in Estero, Fl. The condo was on a golf course where my dad learned how to play golf. He eventually tallied up 3 hole in ones on this course. I told you he was athletic.

Dad Plaque for Holes in One - 2017

Mr. Adventure was not done with his adventures. Living full time in a condo, even with the golf course did not satisfy my father (or mothers) adventurous appetite.

As you may have read in this genealogy blog, Dad family ancestry was largely from the Finger Lake area of New York State. Dad spent many years in his youth visiting his Aunt and cousins on a cottage on Keuka Lake. He also went to Cornell which is in the Finger Lake region (Ithaca).

Dad with his cousin Randy - Finger Lakes

Mom and Dad decided to purchase a small cottage on Lake Seneca in the Finger Lakes.

This cottage was meant for family trips. My wife and I religiously visited Mom and Dad on Lake Seneca. Dad remodeled the cottage and built a nice sitting deck out by the water. He also bought a boat for skiing and sunset booze cruises.

Boat Ride on Lake Seneca - 2005

Dad on his Dock - 2005

Cocktail Hour Lakeside - 2006

Dad and Mom had the cottage on the lake for 5 years. Many great times and memories were spent there. It was a great time in his retirement. They sold the cabin in 2009.

In 2009, Dad's mother in law, Mary Agnes Mahar passed on. During her ailments, Mom and Dad would visit her near Atlanta, GA. During one visit, Mom and Dad decided to visit the Blue Ridge mountains of GA. Both of them loved the area and decided to rent a house for the summer.

They loved the area so much, the next year they decided to purchase a cabin in Blue Ridge, GA. The cabin was named Antler Lodge for the set of deer antlers that were hung on the living room wall.

Dad on his Porch Blue Ridge - 2010

Dad volunteered at a local theater company where he would build sets for the upcoming plays. Like he did with his father, I also tried to visit my father and mother every summer. Blue Ridge was a beautiful cabin.

Blue Ridge Target Practice - 2013

We enjoyed playing golf in the mountains, practice shooting cans on a fence and having delicious BBQ.

Me, Dad and my brother Charlie III - 2014

After 7 years of summer traveling to Blue Ridge, GA, my parents decided to sell Antler Lodge and move back to Estero permanently.

Mom and Dad moved back to Estero and spent the winter enjoying their condo.

Mr. Adventure was not done yet. Over the winter, Dad decided he would have cabin fever if he stayed in the condo all summer long.

He convinced my Mom to purchase a 19 foot travel trailer and drive from Florida to Oregon following the Oregon trail. The main reason for the trip was to visit his sister Joan in Oregon.

Dad and Aunt Joan in Oregon - 2015

Dad chronicled his journey across the country and back in a 47 chapter blog. I enjoyed reading every minute of the blog and following my parents having an incredible adventure in their retirement.

You can find Dad's Oregon Trail blog here.

Dad, Mom and Cabo - 2015

Mom and Dad arrived back at their condo at the end of August to enjoy a the Winter in Florida.

So Dad and Mom started their retirement in a 37 foot motor home which was too confining after the first year. Now they have traveled across the country and back in a 19 foot travel trailer. Dad must have been very convincing to Mom.

They are not done yet... Dad convinced Mom to travel again in the summer of 2016. They would use the same small trailer and travel up the east coast of the USA to Montreal and back.

Dad planned this trip so he could visit his sister Anne and her husband John. The goal was to tour Nova Scotia and enjoy the scenery and company.

Dad and Sister Anne in Nova Scotia - 2016

Dad chronicled his visit up the east coast of the USA here.

He was successful in convincing my Mom to ride the entire summer in a 19 foot trailer for two years and get to see both of his sisters.

Dad loved both trips very much. I would encourage you to read these blogs, they are very entertaining.

My parents settled back for the winter in Estero, Fl. Their plan was to spend their first summer in Florida since 1996.

In September of 2017, hurricane Irma struck the Florida Keys and Southwest Florida. During this storm my parents lost their best friend and travel companion Cabo San Poofus. Cabo was a rescue dog from a Mennonite breeding farm. He traveled with my parents each year to the cabin in Blue Ridge, GA as well as both trips in the 19 foot trailer.

Mom, Dad, Cabo, Bhodi and Aunt Joan - 2016

Dad decided he would plan another trip next summer.

Dad did a lot of research and they decided to take a Viking Cruise through France.

In the summer of 2018, Mom and Dad flew to France and boarded Viking Cruise lines.

The cruise had many historical excursions which Dad loved. They loved the cruise so much, my parents decided to book another cruise for the summer of 2019.

Dad at Normandy Beaches - 2018

My parents spent the winter of 2018 in their Estero condo. My wife and I celebrated Christmas and my birthday with my parents at my house in Miami.

Unbeknownst to me, this would be the last time I saw and spoke to my father (December 31st, 2018). 

Charles A Baker Jr. was the best man I have ever known. He will always be my hero.

Our family would like to thank you for reading Dad's blog.

Life is too short, get out and enjoy it!

Cheers from our family to yours !!!

Cheers !!! - Until We Meet Again

The Baker's