David L. Baker 77 of Natick died Thursday December 11, 2014.
He was the beloved husband of Deborah M. (Dowd) Baker sharing 50 years of marriage.
A Natick resident for 50 years he was born in Syracuse NY the son of the late Leonard and Lulu (Stevens) Baker.
Mr. Baker was a Project Coordinator for the City of Boston Redevelopment Authority for 33 years.
David was raised in Newton MA and graduated from Newton High School class of 1955.He Attended Lawrence Academy for a Post Graduate year where he played football and lacrosse. He was a highly recruited athlete at the college level and chose Syracuse University, number 1 ranked team in the nation, where he excelled in football playing both linebacker and running back, graduating in 1960. He scored two touchdowns against West Virginia leading Syracuse into the 1959 Orange Bowl. He was coached by the legendary Ben Schwartzwalder and had as a teammate Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis.
Mr. Baker maintained his love of sports in Natick assisting in the Natick Comets hockey program and supporting his sons and grandchildren as they played at the high school and college level.
He dearly loved his family and enjoyed some of life’s simple pleasures such as walking the track at Natick High School or occasionally relaxing with a good cigar.
In addition to his wife he is survived by four children John L Baker and his wife Laura of Grafton, Kendra M. Baker-Murphy of Sandwich, James D. Baker of Grafton, Kara A. Baker –Tomassini of Natick, one sister Alice Alexander and brother in law Richard Alexander of Silver Springs MD, brother in law James Bagnell of Easton, 12 grandchildren, Jake ,Luke and Zack Baker of Grafton, Christina, Brendan, Jack, and Sean Murphy of Sandwich, Tyler, Ryan, Shane and Alyssa Baker of Grafton and Gianna Tomassini of Natick.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial on Monday December 15, at 12 Noon in St Patrick’s Church, Natick MA
Visiting hours on Sunday from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. in the John Everett and Sons Funeral Home 4 Park Street, at Natick Common.
Internment Oak Grove Cemetery Medford
Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation P.O. Box 767 Framingham MA 01701