Baron, Jaclyn Sue
Jaclyn Sue Baron was freed from the relentless and cruel disease of Primary Progressive Aphasia, a terrible dementia that slowly took her from her family and friends over the last nine years. Jackie peacefully passed on March 20, 2017 holding the hand of her sister Judy. She had been living at the North Ridge Alzheimer’s’ Special Care Center in Albuquerque, NM.
Jackie was born on July 26, 1948 to Arnie and Sylvia Baron in Rapid City, South Dakota and was raised in Billings, Montana. She attended Colorado Women’s College in Denver (now the University of Denver) and the University of New Mexico from where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in University Studies in 1974. She then began her career with the State of New Mexico’s Human Services Department where she was a compassionate and dedicated public servant with both the Income Support Division and the Child Support Enforcement Division for over 25 years. During her career she made many friends with whom she remained close until her illness took her from them.
After her retirement from NM State government she volunteered in a number of organizations, including helping the youngsters in her neighborhood school with reading and working as a volunteer with the American Civil Liberties Union. Jackie was devoted to the causes of civil rights for all, but especially for women and anyone else she viewed as being treated unfairly. She was also a life-long lover of animals and over her lifetime fostered and owned dogs and cats too numerous to name. She discovered a love for travel at an early age and was an exchange student in Norway while in high school, and she and her sister Judy participated in an archeological dig in Israel as young women. Over the years she was also able to visit England, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos, Columbia, Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands and France as well as many, many parts of the US. Another love of Jackie’s was folk dancing in which she enthusiastically and joyfully participated with a group of her good friends for many years.
Jackie was pre-deceased by her father and mother.
She is survived by her husband Juan Camacho; her sister Judith Baron and brother-in-law Jeffrey Schmitt and her beloved niece Kata Baron. She is also survived by her Uncle Will and Aunt Barbara Friedman of Dallas, TX, her cousins Lorraine Friedman and Lou Friedman and their families, her brotherin-law Jose and her sistersin-law Mary, Sandra and Claudia and their families in Columbia. And last but not least, by her beloved dog Zeppy. Jackie also left behind many, many friends to whom she was fiercely loyal and supportive.
There will be an informal memorial service for Jackie on May 21, 2017 at 5314 Kings Row, NE in Albuquerque at 2:00 PM. Please call 505-256-1675 for more information. Her family would love to have her many friends attend and share their memories and stories of "Life with Jackie". Jackie will be interred in the Congregation Albert Cemetery located within Fairview Cemetery in Albuquerque.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Jackie’s memory to Animal Humane New Mexico, 615 Virginia St SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, 505-255-5523 or to an organization of your choice.