Thomas J. Baker, MD

November 8, 1925 - December 26, 2020

Miami, Florida - Thomas J. Baker, M.D., 95, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2020, in Miami, Florida, after experiencing a stroke. Tom grew up a Midwest farm boy and went on to become a world-renowned aesthetic plastic surgeon, educator, and loving father to his four children.

Born on November 8, 1925, Tom grew up on his family’s farm in Clay, Kentucky, the only child of Emily and Thomas Baker. As a young boy he earned the nickname “June Bug” and fed chickens while raising pets that included a dog and his beloved pony. Despite the draw of farm life, that was not Tom’s destiny. After he completed grade school, Tom’s family moved to Booneville, Indiana where he attended and graduated from Mount Vernon High School while earning an Eagle Scout distinction.

Tom attended Indiana University where his transformation to a Hoosier was completed. He studied hard and joined the Acacia fraternity, but Tom never missed an opportunity for fun. A gifted piano player, Tom enjoyed entertaining the co-eds at the nearby Tri Delta sorority much more than his actual job there of washing dishes. Tom graduated from IU and continued his education at IU’s School of Medicine.

While in medical school, Tom met nursing student Mary Anne McDougal and they married on September 11, 1948 in Salem, Illinois, after Mary’s graduation. After completing his surgery and other residencies and serving in the U.S Navy, Tom and Mary moved to Miami, Florida, where Tom opened a surgical practice and became a pioneer in aesthetic surgery. Tom helped develop the chemical face peel and innovated procedures for breast augmentation and facelifts, among other advances. He also served several six-week tours on the HOPE Ship in the 1960s off the coasts of Africa and South America providing medical care, including surgeries, to the poor. Tom’s desire to learn and expand his knowledge was insatiable. He embraced lasers and laparoscopic surgery late in his long career. He was a giant in his field and greatly influenced plastic surgery.

Among Tom’s most lasting legacies was establishing the Baker Gordon Symposium, which for more than 50 years has helped legitimize aesthetic surgery and teach ground-breaking techniques to thousands of surgeons from across the globe. Tom was honored with countless awards and accolades, including being selected as the President of the American Society of Aesthetic Surgery and serving as an Associate Professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine, where he participated in Grand Rounds for residents and medical students.

Tom traveled the world and had many interests outside of medicine. One of his great loves was snow skiing, especially in Zermatt, Switzerland, where he could ski around the base of the Matterhorn into Italy. He also loved skiing in Aspen and Vail, Colorado. Tom spent many enjoyable hours as a ham radio operator with the call sign WA4JTS (Jolly Talkative Surgeon). His many accomplishments also included earning a pilot’s license with certification in both instrument and mult-engine aircrafts. Tom spent many hours in the air, often taking his children on family holidays in the Bahamas. Tom loved music and as a gifted pianist was often found at his piano playing Duke Ellington’s “Satin Doll” or any number of Erroll Garner tunes. Tom gave generously to the University of Miami School of Music. Tom was a member of the “100 Club” of the Riviera Country Club and could often be found there playing gin rummy and taking others’ money 25 cents at a time. However, Tom also hosted poker games in his Miami condo once a week, where he was happy to relieve his friends of more sizeable pots.

Tom was a kind man with a great sense of humor and delighted in telling corny jokes. He abhorred vegetables and always looked forward to his nightly Jack Daniels Manhattan. His family loved him dearly and he will be missed in ways that words cannot adequately express. Tom was a loving and giving father, and is survived by: daughter Annie Hooten (Ed), granddaughter Jennie Graz (Tim) and great-grandchildren Josephine and Sebastian; son Thomas (Simone), grandson Thomas and granddaughter Lauren (Ed), and great-grandson Connor: son Tracy (Jackie); and son Tim (Cynthia), grandson Zachary and granddaughters Melissa and Elizabeth.

Services will be private. Condolences can be posted at masponsfuneral.com

In lieu of flowers, family is requesting donations to the University of Miami School of Music. Contributions may be made in Tom’s name to the University of Miami Frost School of Music @ https://development.miami. edu/page.aspx?pid=358