William D. Baker

Jan 17, 1947 - Jan 22, 2018

William D. Baker, son of Elizabeth and W. Carter Baker of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away on January 22, 2018 at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco, California of complications from Leukemia-related illness.

Dr. Baker received the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware in 1968, the Master of Arts degree in 1974 from West Chester State College, and the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1984 from Temple University. He taught at John Dickinson High School from 1968 to 1969. Inducted into the U. S. Army in 1969, he served until 1971. Dr. Baker returned to teaching at William Penn High School, New Castle, Delaware where he taught Spanish and French until retiring in 1995. After retiring, he taught briefly at Padua Academy, Wilmington, Delaware and at Gateway High School, San Francisco, California. He has made his home in San Francisco since 2001.

Serving as Vice-President, President-Elect, and eventually President of the Delaware Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Dr. Baker advocated the notion that learning a second language is a rewarding experience in an ever-increasingly multicultural society. He spoke at many local and national conferences on the teaching of foreign languages and published articles, book reviews, and abstracts on Spanish language and literature.

He enjoyed playing racquetball and riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He was a member of ABATE Delaware for 14 years. He was also a member of St. James’ Episcopal Church, Millcreek Hundred, Wilmington, Delaware and All Saints’ Episcopal Church, San Francisco, California.

He is survived by his partner of thirty-four years, Stephen J. Schultz.

A memorial Eucharist will be celebrated at All Saints’ Episcopal Church on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 10 am. Interment will be in the Columbarium in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd in All Saints’ Church immediately following the Eucharist service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society at donate.lls.org/donate