In Memory

Mary Dana West (Baker) - Class Of 1940

Mary Dana West (Baker)

Mary Dana West Baker, known as MD to all her many friends, died peacefully at the age of 96. She was born in Pasadena to Donald and Hildreth Markham West. She attended Pomona College where she made many lifelong friends and where she met her future husband James A Baker who was in the US Army pre-meteorology program at Pomona. They were married in 1946 and moved to Berkeley where her husband enrolled in the graduate program in mathematics.

MD enjoyed life to the fullest and loved hiking, rock climbing, sailing, tennis, bridge, playing the piano, cooking, gardening, and traveling and especially being with friends and family. She read voraciously and birthday cards from her were special with poems and rhymes. 

She was predeceased by her husband and her daughter but continued to live in the family home in Berkeley. In her later years she was cared for by many wonderful caregivers and especially enjoyed her visits from a friend, Nate, and his dogs Trixie and Spiff with whom she formed a special bond.

San Francisco Chronicle, January 23, 2020