Bernard Baxter Rice

October 20, 1937 – June 17, 2021

On June 17, 2021, at the age of 83, Baxter Rice died comfortably at home in the company of his loving wife of 38 years, Lorie. The family thanks the comforting hospice care of By the Bay Health, which made his last days stress-free.

He was pre-deceased by his daughter Elizabeth Rice, his brother Francis Rice, his sisters Patricia Rice Norris and Rosemary Rice Ashworth, his parents Marie Albers and Oscar Bernard (“Jack”) Rice. He is survived by his wife, Lorie Rice, daughters Amy Rice and Kate (Daryl) Beyler, granddaughters Charlotte and Elizabeth (Ellie) Beyler, his former wife, Coby Rice, and his brother Michael (Angele) Rice.

Baxter was an integral member of the 1955 Centennial Class of St. Ignatius High School, where he was a co-editor of the yearbook and a forward on the 1954 Wildcat championship basketball team. Following high school, Baxter served for ten years as a Jesuit scholastic during which time he earned a Masters Degree in Philosophy from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, and received missionary training in Taiwan where he earned a Certificate in Chinese Language Studies.

Following his Jesuit service, he embarked on an apprenticeship as a Trust Officer at the Crocker Bank in San Francisco. His language skills brought him to the attention of the Central Intelligence Agency where he served as an officer on the China desk during the Nixon outreach when U.S./China relations were being restored. In 1975 he functioned as a consultant for newly elected California Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown and was subsequently appointed Director of the State’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. At the ABC he was instrumental in creating regulations which promoted alcoholism prevention, a pioneering, socially enlightened application of agency funds to address social harm caused by a regulated product. He, himself, was well known for his enthusiastic but moderate enjoyment of a perfectly concocted Negroni (or two). Following his term as ABC Director, Baxter developed a consulting business advising law firms and other clients on ABC licensing issues. Most recently he returned to public service, and served on the Board of Appeals for the ABC. Over the years, he gave generously to numerous corporate boards, both public and private, donating his time, administrative talent and fund-raising skills. He was Chairman of the Board of the Oakland Military Academy, and he raised significant amounts of financial assistance for PICO (Faith in Action International), a parish-based community organizing association, which he saw expand nation-wide and into foreign missionary regions.

Baxter travelled the world and was comfortable within it. A witty raconteur and delightful companion, Baxter was always impeccably dressed and surrounded by an eclectic mixture of life-long friends. He was a member of The Family Club. A loving husband and father, and the soul of generosity, Baxter will be missed by all. Lorie and the family thank so many who have provided much comfort to him in these recent months.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Genitourinary Medical Oncology Program at UCSF, c/o Terry Friedlander, MD,1825 Fourth St., Sixth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 and/or Faith in Action International, 171 Santa Rosa Av., Oakland, CA 94601. A memorial mass will be held on July 8th at 1:00 PM at St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker Av., San Francisco.