Richard L. “Dick” Baird

Richard L. “Dick” Baird, age 86, of Wilmington, DE, and Sunapee, NH, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on Wednesday, October 25, 2017.

Born in Sioux City, Iowa in 1931, he was the oldest son of the late Charlotte A. G. Cownie and John Baird. He was preceded in death by his brother Michael. Dick attended high school (Franklin H.S) and college (Reed College, 1953) in Portland, OR. Known by his family as a perpetual student, Dick received his PhD from UCLA and completed postdoctoral studies at Harvard University. He married the former Janet Morton of Staten Island, NY in August 1959. After teaching chemistry for several years at Yale University, he and his wife Janet moved to Wilmington where he spent the rest of his career as a research chemist for DuPont. After he retired, Dick volunteered for and ran the local AARP tax program for many years. He was active with the New Castle Sailing Club, sailed his own boat on Lake Sunapee, and traveled extensively with his wife.

Dick is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Janet M. Baird; son Bruce of Wilmington; daughter Catherine (Lorin) Kusmin and granddaughters Lynn and Abigail Kusmin, all of Silver Spring, MD. He is also survived by his sister Joan (John) Jarboe, brother John (Lynne) Baird, sister Susan (Bill) Ninnis, and sister-in-law Dorothy Baird, as well as many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests charitable contributions to Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd., Portland, OR 97202-8199 in memory of Dick.