Robert Ellis Baron

Robert Ellis “Bob” Baron, 96, of Harrisburg PA, formerly of Lancaster, passed from this life on July 21,2019. Born June 11, 1923 in Brooklyn NY, he was the son of Emanuel and Tanya Baron. A graduate of Brooklyn College, he was an avid fencer and a terrible boxer. During World War II he served in both the European and Pacific Theaters as a scout and sniper with the 86th Blackhawk Division. He often commented that we won the war in spite of his abilities as a soldier. He married his lifetime soulmate and sidekick, Marie “Jill” Baron on May 27, 1948. In the 1950’s, he sold early versions of some of the first rechargeable batteries. For 20 years, he was the plant manager at Tidy Products Manufacturing Company and then worked in purchasing at Walter Moyer/Gerber Products until his retirement. He was fiercely loyal to his friends and immeasurably proud of his children, grandchildren and great granddaughter. A lifetime student, he began fencing again in his seventies and was taking German and Spanish classes into his nineties. After retiring, he also taught purchasing at local Penn State University branch campuses and regularly volunteered to teach reading at Nitrauer Elementary School. His students, children, grandchildren and many of their friends sought his advice in making major life decisions as he thoroughly investigated the pros and cons of any issue in microscopic detail. He loved to travel anywhere with Jill and many a free day was spent driving “wherever the car was headed.” Fishing was a lifetime love, especially with his son and grandsons. For more than 25 years he was addicted to trapshooting and was actively shooting until 2014. His life was a beautiful balancing act of his favorite sayings; “This above all to thine own self be true,” “this too shall pass”, and “nobody ever put ‘gee, I wish I could have worked more’ on their tombstone.”

Surviving are a son, Dr. Richard Baron and wife Karen Peckham, Lititz, PA, a daughter Deborah Baron Hiester and husband David J. Hiester, Harrisburg, PA, and grandsons Dr. Andrew Baron and wife Katie Tate Baron, Philadelphia, PA, Adam Baron, Arlington, VA and Jason Baron Rosenbloom, Mechanicsburg, PA. A great granddaughter Adelaide Marie Baron and brother Bennett Baron also survive.

The family would like to express its eternal gratitude to all the fantastic staff at the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg who treated Bob and Jill like the royalty that they were to all of us.

The family is also thankful for the compassionate and professional care provided by all the caregivers at Hospice of Central Pennsylvania.

Funeral services, conducted by Rabbi Jack P. Paskoff, will be held Friday, July 26th at 10:00AM at Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, 75 East James Street, Lancaster, PA. A meal of consolation will be provided immediately following services. All are welcome.

A private, military interment at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery will be at held at the discretion of the family.

The observance of Shiva will be conducted by Rabbi Carl Choper at 2:00PM Sunday, July 28th at the Residence of the Jewish Home, 4004 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to the newly established Bob and Jill Baron Memorial Fund, which will provide on-going awards and stipends to long-term caregivers for outstanding service.

Donations may be sent to the Bob and Jill Baron Memorial Fund

C/O Branch Manager, PNC Bank – Colonial Park Branch, 500 Colonial Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112.

Online condolences may be made at www.neillharrisburg.com.