John C Baker, 79, of Indiana PA, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Thursday November 9, 2023 at the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh PA. John was an assistant professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). He retired from IUP after teaching in the Department of Food and Nutrition for over nineteen years.
While working in the cafeteria in his senior year at Central Dauphin High School, John received a two-year Mott Foundation all expenses paid scholarship. John received a two-year degree from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), excellence in professional culinary education since 1946.
After his graduation from CIA, John was hired to work in the food service/hospitality industry throughout the US before turning to education. John always loved fast cars, and while he still worked in the food business, he bought a 289 AC Cobra. When the new teacher pulled into his parking space in the morning, the boys and maybe a few girls would run to the windows to watch that beautiful little race car throttle into the parking lot. On the weekends, he loved to race his Cobra at the old Hershey Hill Climb, where he proudly won a couple of trophies, which are displayed in a photo on his desk at home. However, the Cobra had to be sold after family life became a priority, and fast cars had to move to the back of the list.
In trying out jobs for a career, John became an assistant manager of Food Service at the University of New Haven CT, where he took courses to earn his Bachelor's degree. He then moved to Adrian MI where he earned his Master of Arts Degree. Next, he was hired as a faculty member at a four-year university, IUP, where he remained teaching for over two decades. While at IUP, he continued his education, taking Ph.D courses through Penn State.
When John took an early retirement in 2003, he started to buy and restore old cars, seeing himself as a “Car Guy,” hanging out at the car garage. His wife Pat retired in 2010, and the couple bought a home in Bradenton FL and became “SnowBirds”. Soon they both joined the Corvette Club, becoming social members in John’s favorite hobby. John enjoyed weekly car shows during the winter months and looked forward to summers in Pennsylvania when he could show his car at the many regional car shows.
Surviving are John’s immediate family: his wife Dr. Patricia Scott, his son David Baker (Melissa) from Brewer ME, his daughter Andrea Baker (Kristine Shollenberger) of Boston MA, and his children’s mother Joan Heilman of Boston MA. John also has a stepson Michael Scott, Indiana PA.
He has five grandchildren Chrystian (Brett) McCullough of Corinth ME, Teagan Baker (Dan Bouchey) of LeVant ME; Liam, Dominic, and Lafayette who are all from Brewer ME, and John also has three great grandchildren from ME.
Also surviving are John’s brothers and sisters: Jewel “Bonnie” (Warren) Jones of Mechanicsburg PA, Michael (Sherry) Baker, Harrisburg PA, Larry Baker of Enola PA, and Susan Sucec of Camp Hill PA. John also has three nieces and two nephews.
John was preceded in death: by his father George Baker of West Fairview PA, his mother Pauline (Rhoads) of Derry Township PA, and grandson, Cody Baker, of Indiana PA.
John was born in Hershey PA on March 27 1944, and this year, he would have turned 80. A celebration of John’s life will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 714 Pratt Drive in Indiana PA on Saturday March 16, 2024 from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm.
Visit www.rairighfh.com to sign John’s guestbook and share a message or memory.