A death

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


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:7
                   Distributed: Friday, July 19, 2002
                        Message Id: cdl-16-7-002
                                  ***