Florence Baker Nathan

Florence’s abiding passion was her family – her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, and nieces. Renowned for her encyclopedic memory, she often recalled stories involving family members that they themselves did not remember. She had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren, who called her “Ima” (Hebrew for “mother”). She closely followed their lives, celebrated their triumphs, and unfailingly remembered their birthdays with a card. She prided herself on being the first one to “like” or comment on their Facebook posts.

Born to a Jewish family that kept kosher, Florence was one of the first girls to be a bat mitzvah at Temple Emeth in Brookline, Massachusetts, the congregation her parents helped found. She was an active member of Temple Isaiah in Lexington, Massachusetts, and The Jewish Center of Princeton. Like her mother, she served as president of a local chapter of Hadassah, the women’s Zionist organization of America.

Although she moved from the Boston area in 1971, Florence never lost her love for New England and its traditions. On frequent visits to see family and friends, she enjoyed walking on the beach, watching the fall leaves turn color, noshing on fried clams, and eating Brigham’s coffee ice cream. She rooted for the Boston professional sports teams, particularly the Red Sox.

Florence was born on May 31, 1937, in Brookline, the daughter of Arthur Baker and Esther Miller Baker. She spent summers with her family on Cape Cod and was a proud graduate of Brookline High School. A history major and secondary school education minor at Boston University, she received her bachelor’s degree cum laude in 1959.

Following graduation, she taught at the Baker School in Brookline, the elementary school she attended, and in St. Louis. After her children were older, she re-entered the workforce in 1983 as administrator at The Jewish Center. In 1987, she joined the New Jersey State Bar Foundation as director of special programs. For 30 years, she organized the group’s annual awards dinner, coordinated major conferences around the state, and supervised the Court Night program. She retired three months shy of her 80th birthday.

She leaves two sons, David and his wife, Susan, of Sudbury, Massachusetts, and Mark and his wife, EunHee, of Amherst, New York; two daughters, Anne and her husband, Erik, of Vernon Hills, and Laura and her wife, Arlene Quinones, of Milford, Pennsylvania; 12 grandchildren, Abigail, Daniel, Jennifer, Dylan, and Sarah Nathan, Kathleen, Emily, and Zachary Nistad, Kyser Rodriguez, and Javian, Izmari, and Skyla Quinones Nathan; and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her former husband, Peter Nathan, daughter Jennifer, son Jonathan, grandson Erik, and siblings Gerry and Lois.

A Graveside Service will be held privately on Sunday March, 3, 2024 in the Crawford Street Memorial Park, 776 Baker Street, West Roxbury, Massachusetts. The family welcomes visitors from noon-4 p.m. Sunday, March 3, 2024 at the home of David and Susan Nathan.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Florence’s memory be made to Magen David Adom, the Israeli Red Cross organization.