ROTTERDAM — Bill Baker, the longtime Mohonasen High School coach and athletic director who led the Warriors to Suburban Council and Section II championships, died Wednesday. He was 69.
Also a physical education, health and driver education teacher, Baker retired in 1988, but had kept close ties with Mohonasen through its Athletic Hall of Fame and the Mohonasen Foundation for Excellence.
“We’re grateful for his years in our community and athletic program, and for the foundation he laid years ago,” said Joe Scalise, the school’s current athletic director.
Baker, a Mont Pleasant High School and Springfield College graduate who joined the school district when it centralized in 1957, spent four years coaching the freshmen and junior varsity basketball programs before taking over the head coaching job from Bill Manikas in 1963 to begin a 26-year tenure.
Baker’s 1968-69 team, with a starting lineup of Jack Goldthwaite, Rit Fuller, Dick Capeless, Chuck Evans and Bill Murray, tied Colonie for the Suburban Council championship with a 13-3 record and finished 16-4 overall, knocking off Albany in postseason play and losing in overtime to Mont Pleasant in the Class A sectional semifinals.
“The Goldthwaite years were super years,” Baker told The Gazette in February 1988. “That was an extremely good group of kids to work with.”
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
According to a reputable source, Baker was 79, not 69 - and two weeks ago he was on the golf course for a 18 hole game, then went to the hospital - diagnosis was advanced lung cancer, and passed away.
Rotterdam — Willard Glenn Baker (Bill), 79, passed away W e d n e s d a y , May 16, 2012, at Albany Medical Center. He was born in Burlington, VT, March 24, 1933, son of the late Marvel and Howard Baker. He was a graduate of Mont Pleasant High School in 1951 and received a BS degree in physical education in 1957 from Springfield College in Springfield, MA and a master’s degree in school administration from SUNY-Albany. He was a physical education teacher, health teacher, driver’s education teacher from 1957 to 1988 at Mohonasen Central Schools, and was an athlectic director f r o m 1 9 7 0 - 1 9 8 6 . H e a l s o coached varsity baseball from 1960-1965 and varsity basketball from 1963-1988; coached varsity girl’s soccer from 1980-1988. He worked at Albany Carlson and was a Suburban Council scheduling consultant 1990-1995. Bill was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a board member - Mohonasen Foundation for Excellence 2003-2012; member- Eastern Board Approved Soccer Officials and College Soccer Officials; member - NY Seniors Golf Association; member - Ballston Spa Country Club; member - Bellevue Reformed Church since 1949; member - BRC Consistory; vice president -BRC Consistory, member - Eastern NY Golf Association; member - NYS Athletic Directors Association; member - NYS United Teachers; member -Section II Basketball Committees 1970-1986; Qualifier - NYS Golf Association Super Seniors Amatuer Golf Tournament -1998; president - Mohonasen Teacher’s Association 1972-1976; chairman-Suburban Council Basketball 1970-1985; president-Subu r b a n C o u n c i l A t h l e t i c Directors 1972; founder-Dutchmasters Golf League; Cofounder-John F. Kirvin Rotterdam Basketball Tournament; Suburban Council Baseball Champion 1965; Suburban Council Basketball Champion 1968; Section II Class A-AA Basketball Champion 1972; inducted to Mohonasen Athletic Hall of Fame 2009. He married Lois E. Sigsbee Baker August 18, 1956. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years; she was his rock. Very proud of two daughters, Deborah Wilday (Stuart) of Galway, NY and Kim Smith (Jeffrey) of Clifton Park, NY; and two sons, Dennis Baker (Lisa) of Greenville, SC, and Roger Baker and friend, Eileen of New London, CT. He loved his grandchildren dearly, Courtney, Pamela, Katie, Steven, Matthew and Christian Wilday of Galway, NY and William, Daniel, Jennifer and Nicholas Baker of Greenville, SC; and stepgrandchildren, Thomas Ussery (Juri); and two sons, Owen and Evan of Okinawa, Japan and Heather Sudduth (Craig) of Greenville, SC and Andrew Ussery (Beth) and daughter, Autumn of Twentynine Palms, CA. Also survived by sister, Lois Gaskins (James) of Wyndmoor, PA; and niece, Meredith Allen (Terrance) of Virginia. Also by nieces and nephews, and sister-in-law, Caryl Cameron (Robert) of Keuka Lake, NY Bill will be sorely missed by his loving family and many dear friends. He was always pleased to run into his former students and looked forward to a good game of golf with his treasured friends. Calling hours 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 21, 2012 at De-Marco-Stone Funeral Home, 1605 Helderberg Ave., Rotterdam. Memorial service at 10 a.m. at Bellevue Reformed Church in Schenectady on Tuesday, May 22. Burial in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Guilderland, NY. Contributions may be made to Bellevue Reformed Church, 2000 Broadway, Schenectady, NY 12306. Arrangements by R.J. DeLuccia, 1605 Helderberg Ave., Rotterdam, NY 12306. Richard DeLuccia Funeral Service 1605 Helderberg Ave. Schenectady • 355-5770
Mohonasen legend dies Bill Baker spent 31 years coaching at Rotterdam school By Spotlight Staff As of Wednesday, May 23, 2012 -3:03 p.m.
#ROTTERDAM — Mohonasen High School Athletic Hall of Fame coach and athletic director Willard (Bill) Baker died last Wednesday at the age of 79.
#Baker coached several sports during a 31-year career at the Rotterdam school, with his greatest success coming in baseball and boys basketball.
#He coached the baseball team from 1960 to 1965 and guided Mohonasen to the Suburban Council co-championship in 1965.
#Baker became the boys varsity basketball coach in 1963 and led Mohonasen to a Suburban Council co-championship in 1968. He then guided the Mighty Warriors to the Section II Class A/AA title in 1972.
#Baker became the school’s athletic director in 1970 — a post he filled until 1986. He was also the Suburban Council basketball chairman and a member of the Section II basketball committee from 1970 through 1985.
#Baker is survived by his wife, Lois, four children and grandchildren.
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