Published: 11/25/02

SARANAC LAKE — Fred Carl Baker, 63, died suddenly of heart failure on Nov. 22, 2002 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany.

He was born in Granville, N.Y., July 28, 1939. He was the son of the late Edward Baker and Rose (Viau) Baker. He served in the United States Army Band from 1957 to 1960. He studied music at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam and graduated with a degree in music education.

He was married to Karen DeHond in Rochester, N.Y., in 1965. While in Rochester, he taught music in the Wheatland-Chili School District and the Fairport Central School District. He studied at the Eastman School of Music as well and played in the Chuck Mangione Big Band.

In 1972 he moved with his wife, Karen, and daughter, Kristina, to Saranac Lake. He served the Saranac Lake Central School District from 1972 to 1997 as the instrumental-band director.

He was the founder of the 52nd Street Band, which has entertained people in the North Country since 1980 with swing and jazz music. Upon retirement, he continued to play with numerous small groups and the Wally Siebel Big Band. It was his great joy to serve as a conductor on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Karen DeHond Baker of Saranac Lake; a daughter, Kristina Marie Au and her husband, Timothy Au, and grandson Alexand Jordan Au, all of San Diego, Calif.; a son, Carl Edward Baker of San Francisco, Calif.; a sister, Joyce Baker of Pawlet, Vt.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, William McCabe.

Fred was a man who could be trusted equally to say what was on his mind, to provide a laugh and to engender a feeling of safety. He influenced his students, not just in their music, but in their whole lives. His extraordinary gift as a musician affected all who knew him. The mellow strains of his sax will continue to echo down the streets of Saranac Lake and through the halls of the school he served for 25 years and to reverberate in the hearts of those who loved him.

There will be no calling hours. Arrangements are being handled by the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at the Union Depot in Saranac Lake at 1:30 on Tuesday, Nov. 26. A reception will follow at the Depot.

Contributions can be made in lieu of flowers to the Fred C. Baker Memorial Scholarship Fund which will be established. Checks may be sent to the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home.

PLATTSBURGH — Nellie Clara Burdo, 96, died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Born in Clinton, Mass., on Feb. 19, 1906, she was the daughter of Ben and Felinda (Peet) Nephew.

Nellie was a former member of St. Edmund’s Church and Ellenburg Senior Citizens and a former member of St. Ann’s Society.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Homer and Mildred Burdo of Plattsburgh; five daughters and three sons-in-law, Lillian and Howard Cayea of Ellenburg Depot, Bertha Forrette of Ellenburg Depot, Irene and Lawrence Trombley of Ellenburg Center, Dorothy Giroux of Plattsburgh and Edna and Patrick McCabe of West Chazy; two sisters, Theresa LaRochelle and Irene McComb, both of Mooers Forks; 23 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Her husband, Peter, died on March 18, 1979. One son, Albert, and four grandchildren, Carl Trombley, Susan Cayea, Mary Beth Hart and Ronald Giroux, all died before her. Also, eight brothers and sisters died before her.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26 at the O’Neill-Redden Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at Holy Angels Church in Altona. Burial will be in the parish cemetery in the spring.

SARANAC — Theresa M. Lyon, 73, of Saranac, died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002, at Fletcher Allen Healthcare in Burlington, Vt.

Born in Sciota on Feb. 13, 1929, she was the daughter of Henry and Rose (Lajumunier) Brunell.

Theresa worked for 25 years at the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center. She was a member of the Saranac American Legion Auxiliary and present president of the Saranac Fire Dept. Auxiliary and member of the Beekmantown VFW Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Beekmantown Get Together Club and present secretary and treasurer, and present trustee to Clinton County Council VFW Auxiliary. She was a former member of the J. H. Ketchem Ladies Auxiliary.

Survivors include four children and their spouses, Kevin and Virginia Lyon of Wake Forest, N.C., Karen and Frank Martel of Millerton, N.Y., Keith and Sue Lyon of Saranac, and Katherine and Phil Ashby of Accorad, N.Y.; a brother and sister-in-law, Virgil and Edna Brunell of West Chazy; a sister, Veronica Lashway of Champlain; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a close family friend, Frank "Tiny" Thompson.

Her husband, Erwin F. Lyon, died Oct. 31, 1999.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, at the O’Neill-Redden-Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, from the Church of the Assumption in Redford. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery in the spring.

HAGUE — Barbara G. Fitzgerald, 59, of Overbrook Road, passed away Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002, at the Glens Falls Hospital.

Born in Argyle on Aug. 15, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Helen (McGeoch) Griffin.

Mrs. Fitzgerald was a resident of Hague for most of her life. She was a communicant of the Blessed Sacrament Church of Hague.

She was employed as a teacher’s assistant by the Hague and Ticonderoga school systems for many years in the special-education department.

Survivors include her husband of 30 years, Michael G. Fitzgerald; two sons, David A. Fitzgerald and Gregory S. Fitzgerald, both of Hague; two brothers, Thomas Griffin of Argyle and Mark Griffin of Charlotte, Va.; one sister, Dorothy Griffin of Argyle; and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament of Hague. The Rev. George P. Fleming, pastor, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Hague Volunteer Ambulance Squad, Hague, NY 12836.

IRENE STRACK, 91, formerly of Lake Placid, died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002.

She was born in Churubusco on June 4, 1911, the daughter of Patrick and Mary Louise (Fournia) Patnode.

Calling hours will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2002, at the Clark Funeral Home in Lake Placid. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Michael Gaffney, pastor of the St. Agnes Church in Lake Placid, officiating. Burial will be in St. Agnes Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the North Country.

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