Simon was born and raised in Revere Massachusetts to Samuel and Bella (Berman) Baker. He was the second child of two: his older brother Hyman (deceased) of Boston, MA. He was drafted into the US Army during World War II and served in both the European and Pacific theaters. Post-war he traveled extensively, and after a trip to the newly minted country Israel, he met his soulmate Rosalie Kenner (deceased) in line for a freighter back to the Great Britain. It was love at first sight, and it lasted over 60 years until her death in 2014.
He brought his bride back to Massachusetts briefly before pursuit of higher education and adventure had him accepting a job in Ceylon India. Simon was delighted to discover Rosalie had the same love of excitement and new experiences that he had. They lived in Ceylon for two years, working a land-planning grant, eating fascinating curries, and riding the occasional elephant, before returning to the States for Simon to complete his PhD in Geography from Clark University, Pennsylvania.
In the following years, Simon and Rosalie began to raise their family of three children and in the process moved many times: from Tucson Arizona to Bethesda Maryland to Boca Raton Florida to Honolulu Hawaii, before finally settling in North Carolina. He worked for Sea Grant at NCSU and finally took a position (and realized tenure) at East Carolina University, Greenville NC from which he retired in the early nineties. In the 2000s, they sold the Greenville house and moved to Abbotswood at Irving Park in Greensboro, NC.
He lived to travel and especially enjoyed cruises. Simon adored photography, his favorite subjects his wife, children, grandchildren, and flowers, whether they wanted to be photographed or not. He was intensely curious about everything and subsequently brought his family along on his explorations to include witnessing two Apollo launches, the breathtaking winds on the Pali lookout in Hawaii, the high desert of Arizona, and many others fantastic sights. His fine sense of the ridiculous and his child-like wonder at the world made him a hit with his grandchildren. Simon will be remembered as a kind man, an excellent husband and provider, a wonderful father and grandfather, and a steadfast friend.
Simon was preceded in death by his wife Rosalie and survived by his three children: his oldest daughter Susanne Baker of Greensboro, NC; his only son Jonathan Baker of Cape Canaveral, FL; and his youngest daughter Sara Baker Tripp of Willow Spring, NC. He took enormous delight, pleasure, and pride in his three grandchildren: Samuel Martin of New Orleans, LA; Benjamin Martin of Greensboro, NC; and Sophie Martin of Boone, NC. They were the joy of his later years.
Simon will be laid to rest at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 in the National Cemetery located in Salisbury, North Carolina. Rabbi Fred Guttman will officiate at the graveside ceremony. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Simon’s honor can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation 200 SE First St. Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131.
The Baker family wishes to acknowledge and thank the many people who cared for and were companions to Simon. They will be remembered for their love and compassion, especially caretaker Felicia Smith and companion Bernadette Snider. The time they shared with Simon made his days full of love and laughter and friendship, and we are grateful to them. We know that Simon would say the same if he could.
Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.
Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home has the honor of assisting the Baker family.
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