Obituary of Peter B. Baker

Peter "Pete" Baker died peacefully on the evening of December 27, 2021, at the age of 84.  Pete was born and raised in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, the second son of Patrick J. Baker, Sr. and Bridget King.  He was married to his loving wife and friend, Maryann (formerly Ruzicka) for 61 years and raised two children: his son Fr. Bartley P. Baker of Ridgefield Park, NJ and his daughter Jill Buchheister (husband, Larry) of Dumont, NJ.  

Pete worked very hard all his active life, from delivering groceries as a kid to, attending night school at Pace College for his degree in accounting, to working as an accountant at a Brewery in Manhattan to his time at KPMG. Pete was proud of his work as a senior partner for KPMG/Pete-Marwick for 30 years until his retirement in 1996.  Work was truly a pleasure and a great source of enjoyment for him - he loved going to work every day.  Weekends were almost always for his family and he planned and orchestrated weekends just like he did all the other things in his life.  Whether it was trips to Riis Park, Marine Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the zoo, the Brooklyn Museum or other more far away spots (i.e. Bermuda), a good time was had by all.

Pete was an avid runner who participated in a number of 5K races and ran on average of 4-7 a day . He also played golf for years as a member of Hackensack Golf Club in Emerson, NJ.  He and his family moved from Brooklyn, NY to Haworth, NJ in 1978 and lived there for forty years, moving to Kennett Square, PA. in 2017.  Bart, his son, remembers his Dad singing "Every day is like a holiday."  

Along with his wife and children, Peter is survived by his youngest brother, Michael J. Baker of Brooklyn and many nieces and nephews.  His brother, Patrick J. Baker, Jr. and his two sisters: Anna Marie Baker and Mary Boutross all predeceased him.

A Funeral Mass will be offered at St. Francis RC Church, Ridgefield Park on Friday at 11am. Masks are required.  Interment will be private at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah.  The will be no visiting hours. 

Do not send or bring flowers.  Peter donated generously to Saint Francis Parish and to its Food Pantry.  He was also a trustee for Saint Joseph's Home for the Blind in Jersey City, NJ. Any donations to these charities would be welcomed and appreciated.