Jack died July 19, 2012, in Pasadena, Calif. He was 89.

Jack was born in Elizabeth, N.J., the only child of Joshua and Theodora Baker. He spent 12 years at the Pingry School, where he excelled at baseball, football, and basketball (Athletics Hall of Fame). Jack studied geology at Princeton and graduated in 1944 via an accelerated program.

Jack met his wife, Helene (“Lany”) Whitton, while at Princeton. After marrying in December 1946, they spent time traveling from Louisiana to Texas, New Mexico, and Wyoming before settling in California in 1964. Jack retired after 30 years in the oil-exploration business; for the next 31 he and Lany lived in San Luis Obispo, where he started a second career at Old World Rugs.

Jack and Lany raised three daughters. He relished teaching his girls to field baseballs, sink baskets, and run the 50-yard dash. He also supported their music, dance, and drama endeavors. Jack was known as cheerful, optimistic, principled, and independent. He did not believe in taking life or himself too seriously.

Jack is survived by Lany, his daughters, and four grandchildren. The class extends its sympathy to them.

Undergraduate Class of 1946