William Garrett Baker Jr. dies

From the Wilmington, North Carolina Morning Star, September 29, 2000

     William Garrett Baker Jr. of Wilmington, N.C., investent banker, formerly of Los Angeles and New York City, died Tuesday, September 26, 2000, after a courageous battle with cancer.
       He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 21, 1933, son of the late William Garrett and Susan Katherine D'Aubert Baker; brother of Brenda Baker Brauner of New Orleans, Louisiana and Reverend Bruce Baker, O. Carm., of Niagara Falls, Ontario.
       Willliam is survived by his loving wife, Carla Celeste Conti Baker, formerly of Carzago, Riviera (Brescia, Italy); and three children from his previous marriage to Nancy Rodwell; son, Mr. Rutland Rodwell; and daughters, Miss Suzanne Tarry and Miss Ashley Hamilton. He is also survived by his step-children, Mrs. Elena Gussago-Frassine, wife of Flavio, their son Marco Frassine, and Mr. Michele Gussago and his wife Margherita, all residing in Gardone, V.T., Brescia, Italy.
      After his graduation from Tulane University in 1955, Mr. Baker served as a jet fighter pilot instructor in the United States Air Force. He received his MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1960 and joined Lehman Brothers in New York City. While at Lehman Brothers, he provided financial advice to companies and wealthy families, arranged mergers and acquistions, served as general partner in real estate partnerships, and worked with startup ventures. He also founded and chaired Lehman Special Services, Inc., a subsidary focused on real estate finance and the firm's most complex corporate finance assignments. In 1971 he became a Partner, Managing Director, and Board Member of the firm. Mr. Baker left Lehman Brothers in 1975 to become Executive Vice President, Managing Director and Board Member of E.F. Hutton Inc., in Los Angeles. He left E.F. Hutton in 1984 to form William G. Baker Jr. and Associates, an investment banking firm that provided corporate finance advice to companies. In 1996, Mr. Baker retired and moved to Wilmington, North Carolina.

Throughout his 36-year career as an investment banker, Mr. Baker participated in organizing and financing numerous companies including the Wolper Organization, Cliffwood Energy, and Lin Broadcasting. He served as financial advisor to the Walt Disney Company in financing the construction of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He founded California Biotechnology (now Scios, Inc.), where he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1984 to 1987. Additionally, Mr. Baker served on the boards of numerous public and private companies, including United Foods, The Ralph Parsons Group, Darnell Corp., AMREP Corp., and Pachmayer Gunworks.
      Mr. Baker was active in the Episcopal Church and served on the Board of Kanuga Episcopal Conference Center in Hendersonville, N.C. He was a member of St. Andrew's On-the-Sound Episcopal Church. Mr. Baker was a member of the California Club (Los Angeles), Saddle and Sirlon Club (Los Angeles), Rancheros Visitadores (Los Angeles), The Boston Club (New Orleans), The Bayou Club (Abbeville, LA), and Landfall Club (Wilmington, NC).
      Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 29, 2000 at St. Andrew's On-the-Sound Episcopal Church by the Rev. Dr. Charles Riddle and the Rev. Bruce Baker, O. Carm. A graveside service and interment will take place at 1:00 p.m. Monday, October 2, 2000 in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA by the Rev. M. Gregory Richards.
      In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kanuga Garrett Baker Memorial, Kanuga Episcopal Conferences, PO Box 250, Hendersonville, NC 28793, to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 725-A Wellington Ave., Wilmington, NC 28401, or the Landfall Foundation, 1924 Pembroke Jones Drive, Wilmington, NC 28405.
        Andrews Mortuary, Market Street Chapel.