Mary Ann Barry Baird

May 23, 1933 – January 19, 2023

Ann Baird, (neé Mary Ann Barry) was born in 1933 in Woburn, MA. Her early years were happily spent with a large, sporting, dog-loving family in Wilmington, MA. In 1942 a horrific fire at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub killed four of Ann’s uncles. This tragedy formed Ann’s life journey. A single month after her graduation from Emmanuel College, Ann headed to Europe, taking a job as a civilian with the U.S. Air Force. Accepting an assignment to Evreux, France she met her future husband, Lieutenant Keith Baird. They spent 2 1/2 years there, living in a chateau, as their first son, Gregory, was born. After Europe, they returned to the US, relocated across the country five times, and welcomed three more sons, Douglas, David, and Michael.

In 1974 Ann and Keith settled in Albuquerque where Ann continued to excel at her passion for tennis. While volunteering as a docent at the Albuquerque Museum, Ann became intrigued with houses in the Huning Highlands area of Albuquerque and became a committed and active restorer of houses in that neighborhood. She was immensely proud of the three homes she bought and took enormous steps to renovate them. The houses were awarded the honor of being placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. While researching and exploring authentic furnishings for the homes she and Keith restored, she became enamored with antiques, later owning and managing a popular local antique store Village Antiques, in Los Ranchos.

Ann was an accomplished skier, spending endless glorious hours on the slopes with her friends and family, conquering the runs at Angel Fire, where they owned a home. She created and tended to her bountiful gardens which were enjoyed by all. In addition to her love for dogs she had since childhood, she raised numerous noisy and entertaining other pets including goats and chickens.

Ann’s greatest love was for her four sons, whom she raised to be strong and independent men. Ann artfully provided an environment which forged the bond of family. This deep love of family will be honored even after her passing. It will be challenging without her guiding love, but her presence is with us all. Ann was courageous, generous, with a sharp intelligence and an intrepid spirit, laughing Irish blue eyes, and an endless smile. Her facial expressions could speak volumes without a word.

Ann is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Keith. her sons and their wives, Gregory and Judith, Douglas and Beckie, David and Paige, and daughter-inlaw Kimberly, as well as eleven beloved grandchildren, her sister, Brenda McCabe and numerous loving nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son, Michael.

Ann’s Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 18th, 2023 at 6916 Fourth Street NW from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alpha-1 Foundation (alpha1 .org) or the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).