SOUTH FREEPORT – Capt. Jeremiah George Baker, 63, passed away peacefully in his home, Saturday May 3, 2008, surrounded by his family and close friends. He was a retired Merchant Marine captain, U.S. Coast Guard licensed master, unlimited tonnage, all oceans. Jerry was born in Springfield, Mass., and grew up in Suffield, Conn., the son of the late Ingham Chamberlain Baker and Martha Aiken Baker. He graduated from Marvelwood School, Cornwall, Conn., and a 1968 graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, Castine. While attending Maine Maritime Academy, Jerry joined the U.S. Naval Reserves, attaining a rank of lieutenant. Jerry spent his summers on Bustins Island, Casco Bay, where he developed his lifelong love and respect for the sea. At Maine Maritime Academy he chose a career as a deck officer, and quickly rose to the top of his class in navigation, seamanship, and yacht racing. In his early years as a junior officer, he visited many of the world’s ports from South America to war-torn Vietnam, to the Mediterranean Sea. He was part of the Military Sea Transportation Service, now called Military Sealift Command and spent more than a year aboard a tanker anchored at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. In 1970, he came ashore to be a father to his children, and together with his brother, established Harraseeket Marine Service, South Freeport, which they grew into a full service boatyard and marina. He continued his love of sailing as an active member of the Harraseeket Yacht Club, and he participated in the Gulf of Maine Ocean Racing circuit. He won or placed near the top in many local and regional regattas, and he was regarded as a skillful, competitive skipper. In the early 1980s, Jerry returned to the sea, and obtained his U.S. Coast Guard master’s license. Most of his career as captain was spent delivering fuel products from Texas refineries to various ports from Alaska to Portland. He received a citation from the Coast Guard for rescuing three survivors whose boat had sunk in a storm in the Gulf of Mexico, and he received another citation for a rescue in Chesapeake Bay. His duty schedule allowed Jerry to spend many of his summers in Maine, where he alternated time between his home in South Freeport and his cottage on nearby Bustins Island. He was a member of the Bustins Island Boat Advisory Committee, and delighted in serving as relief captain on the island ferry, the Lilly B. Jerry is remembered by friends and family as a modest, gentle man with an endearing sense of humor. Many of his nieces and nephews considered him as an older brother and mentor, sharing with them his love of sailing and knowledge of the sea. His sailing crews respected his intuitive seamanship and his racing competitors considered him a gracious winner. Jerry is survived by his wife of 23 years, Amanda Lumsden Baker; a son, Michael B. Baker of Veazie; a daughter, Alice E. Baker and her husband, Bruce Crock, of Marin, Calif.; three grandchildren, Ella, Miles and Max Crock; a brother, Walton A Baker and his wife, Joyce, of Topsham; a sister, Alice B. Forgit and her husband, Raymond, of Orrs Island; a sister, Mitsey M. Baker of Glastonbury, Conn.; 10 nieces and nephews, 18 great-nieces and great-nephews, and many close friends. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at South Freeport Church. A reception will be at Harraseeket Yacht Club. A celebration of his life will take place on Bustins Island in July. Arrangements are under the direction of Lindquist Funeral Home, 1 Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jerry’s memory to the Friends of Casco Bay, 43 Slocum Drive, South Portland, ME 04106, or to the BIVC-Lilly B Boat Fund, 114 Royal Point Rd., Yarmouth, ME 04096.
CAPT. JEREMIAH G. BAKER
