Fred M. Baker, Jr., of Charlestown, Dies at 84
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Fred M. Baker, Jr. of Charlestown, RI died October 25, 2021.
He was the oldest son of the late Fred M. Baker and the late Alice W. (Robertson), formerly of East Providence. He was born in Providence on August 11, 1937. He graduated from East Providence High School in 1955.
A retired graphic designer and photographer, Fred graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 1959 with a BFA in Graphic Design. During his long career in Advertising Design, he had been employed by Horton, Church & Goff in Providence as an Art Director; and was the proprietor of FB Design, a free-lance graphics studio in Providence for over 30 years. From 1989 until 2006, he was also employed as the Art Director/Photographer for Whiteco Outdoor, which later became Lamar Outdoor Advertising.
Fred was predeceased by his wife, Constance (Davis), formerly of Pawtucket and later Charlestown, RI. Fred leaves behind 2 daughters; Jill Pare (Steve) of Cranston, RI and Jennifer Baker (Michelle) of Chantilly, Virginia; and his son Jonathan Baker of Arizona. He also leaves behind a brother, William J. Baker of Vermont, five grandchildren and 2 stepdaughters, Stacey (Vadnais) Lecours of Charlestown, RI and Lauren (Vadnais) Malicki of Wethersfield, CT and 4 step-grandchildren.
Fred was previously married to the late Meredith (Newton) Partington of Seekonk, MA and had been a resident of Rumford for 27 years.
Prior to that, Fred was a Past Master Councillor of Loyalty Chapter, Order of DeMolay in Riverside. He was awarded the honorary Degree of Chevalier and was an Advisory Board Member of Loyalty for many years. He had been an active member of the Rumford Lions Club, Providence Art Club, and the South County Conservancy, Inc. He enjoyed skiing, hiking, gardening, photography, traveling and birdwatching.
Fred was very dedicated to the Episcopal Conference Center in Pascoag, RI during his younger years. After the death of his mentor, ECC Administrator Canon Anthony R. Parshley in 1965, Fred co-chaired a fundraising effort and personally commissioned Norman Rockwell to sketch a charcoal portrait of Canon Parshley. Norman thought that would have made a great idea for a Saturday Evening Post cover.
A Memorial Service will be held at Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia Street, Wakefield, RI on November 1 at 10:00 am.
Calling hours will be from 9:30-10:00.
Burial will follow at River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, RI.
Memorial contributions in Fred’s memory may be sent to the Episcopal Conference Center.
