Dick Baker is a member of the Jesuit Dallas Class of 1960. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.
Richard Joseph Baker '60 May 26, 1942 – October 23, 2020 Richard Joseph Baker, III died peacefully surrounded by family on October 23, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. Richard, known to most as Dick, was born on May 26, 1942 in New York City to Richard Joseph Baker, II and Josephine Murphy Baker. Dick was the oldest of 4 children. His family moved to Dallas in 1956 where he attended and graduated from Jesuit High School in 1960. He went on to attend and graduate valedictorian with a B.A. in English from the University of Dallas (1965). While he played basketball and baseball in high school his real passion and talents centered on more intellectual and scholarly pursuits. At the University of Dallas, he served as Associate Editor of the literary magazine (Kerygma) and the newspaper (The Crusader). As one of the first student cohorts at the University of Dallas, Dick was instrumental in starting the "Groundhog Day" tradition at the University which is still celebrated. With the start of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, Dick attended Naval Officer's Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island in 1966. Before leaving Dallas for OCS training, Dick married Sharen Kay Craft also of Dallas, Texas. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1966-1969, stationed in Okinawa, Japan working in naval intelligence supporting the Naval Communications Station - Naha and Futenma. He was honorably discharged after completing his service with rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade (LTJG). After completing his military service, Dick and Sharen returned to Dallas. Dick began a career in advertising as a creative writer at Bloom Advertising where he eventually became Vice President. While he appreciated the creative culture of advertising, Dick decided to follow the pull of his entrepreneurial spirit—leaving Bloom Advertising to start his own company. Eventually, Dick's brilliance as a management consultant allowed him to found and grow a respected and successful management consulting business – Baker & Co. Dick and Kay Castleberry married in 1994. He eventually sold his company to J.D. Power and Associates. As any good serial entrepreneur, "retirement" for Dick Baker meant starting another company—Premium Knowledge Group—along with writing and working on several scholarly papers and books. Dick and Kay found great peace and happiness on quiet mornings having a cup of coffee from their patio overlooking their beloved Lake June. He was a thinker and modern-day philosopher—deeply committed to exploring and understanding human nature and how we become ourselves. He was well-read, with a clever wit, and exceptionally generous. Dick was always willing to offer his gift of problem solving and other support to anyone who asked or needed it. Most recently, Dick was proud of his contribution to his neighborhood HOA in helping protect their neighborhood and much-loved greenspace from over-development. Dick was preceded in death by his parents (Richard and Josephine Baker), sister (Virginia, "B.J.", Baker) and infant daughter, Shaman Marie Baker. A private service is planned for the spring and his ashes will be interred at Dallas-Ft. Worth National Cemetery. If desired, donations in Dick's honor to hone of his preferred charitable organizations to the Genesis Women's Shelter, The Family Place or the Jesuit Scholarship Fund. Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas |