Obituary for Ian Baird
Ian Baird, Folk Musician, Father, and Grandfather
Ian Baird was born on March 22, 1936, and raised in New York City by his mother Mara Spitzer, father Arthur Baird, and step-father Emil Koehler. As a young man he was a talented guitar and banjo player, and member of the Sandy Mountain Boys bluegrass band. In the vibrant folk music scene rooted in New York City’s West Village and Washington Square Park he played, sang and spent time with his friends including Mary Travers of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, and Pete Seeger of the Weavers. Ian was also an accomplished classical and flamenco guitarist. In addition to his passion for music, he was active in the civil rights movement and marched on Washington DC with family and friends during the great peace marches of the 1960s.
Ian and his sister Nona were fourth-great grandchildren of the Scotsman John Murray, the 4th Earl of Dunmore, who was a notorious colonial governor in the US and the Bahamas. Back in Scotland the Earl had built a summer home with a pineapple-shaped cupola which was an ongoing source of bemusement in Ian’s family, and still stands today as a historical landmark.
Family members remember Ian having a sharp mind and a quiet, mischievous sense of humor. A ranked chess master, he played competitively at a chess club on MacDougal Street. He worked for a time as an electrical engineering technician at a biology lab at Columbia University, and later as a carpenter and handyman. Ian was married from 1957 to 1968 to Eva-Lee Baird who raised their son Noah Baird and daughter Freedom Baird.
Ian suffered throughout his adult life with the illness of schizophrenia at a time when it was less understood and more difficult to treat. He spent a lot of time writing, and also walking, and would often cover several miles in a day. Despite the ravages of the illness he allowed for reconnection to family when there was access and opportunity, especially as an older man in his 60s, 70s and 80s. With support and encouragement he was able to join with family regularly on outings, and for get-togethers and holidays.
Always a football fan, Ian rooted for the Giants when he lived in New York City, became a Steelers fan during his fifteen years in Pittsburg, PA, and came around to enjoying the Patriots during his final fifteen years in Boston, Cambridge, and Medford.
Because of his illness Ian never accumulated assets or money, but he was generous, and was the biggest tipper in the family. He would cluck if anyone tipped a waitress or waiter less than 20% and would dig in his wallet to put more money on the table. Despite his illness, and the anxieties and torments it waged in his mind, he was thoughtful and gracious, sharing food, asking after family members’ health, and offering his jacket to keep a loved one warm on a cold day.
Throughout his life Ian was treated with skill and kindness by hundreds of doctors, nurses, social workers, therapists, nutritionists, aides, and other healthcare providers. And during the last 30 years of his life Ian was housed and cared for by the skillful, caring and loving staff of four homes: St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality in Pittsburg, PA, Ruggles Assisted Living in Boston, MA, Neville Place Assisted Living in Cambridge, MA, and Courtyard Nursing Care Center in Medford, MA.
Ian’s sister Nona Yarden passed away in 2020, and his brother-in-law, Elie Yarden, passed away two days before him, on September 5. Ian died at the age of 86 of natural causes on September 7, 2022, and was accompanied in his last hours by his daughter and the devoted care providers at Courtyard Nursing Care Center.
Ian is survived by his daughter Freedom Baird and grandchildren Jupiter Thomas Westbard and Karma Rose Westbard of Cambridge, MA, his son Noah Baird of New York City, his son Don Bender and grandsons Eric and Matt Bender of San Ramon, CA, his nephew Tal Yarden and grand-nephew Fox Ivo Yarden of Brooklyn, NY, his nephew Guy Yarden of Cambridge, MA, and his nephew Seth Yarden, niece Tomoko Terashita, and grand-nephews Yosuke and Akira Terashita, all of Cambridge, MA.
Ian Baird was born on March 22, 1936, and raised in New York City by his mother Mara Spitzer, father Arthur Baird, and step-father Emil Koehler. As a young man he was a talented guitar and banjo player, and member of the Sandy Mountain Boys bluegrass band. In the vibrant folk music scene rooted in New York City’s West Village and Washington Square Park he played, sang and spent time with his friends including Mary Travers of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, and Pete Seeger of the Weavers. Ian was also an accomplished classical and flamenco guitarist. In addition to his passion for music, he was active in the civil rights movement and marched on Washington DC with family and friends during the great peace marches of the 1960s.
Ian and his sister Nona were fourth-great grandchildren of the Scotsman John Murray, the 4th Earl of Dunmore, who was a notorious colonial governor in the US and the Bahamas. Back in Scotland the Earl had built a summer home with a pineapple-shaped cupola which was an ongoing source of bemusement in Ian’s family, and still stands today as a historical landmark.
Family members remember Ian having a sharp mind and a quiet, mischievous sense of humor. A ranked chess master, he played competitively at a chess club on MacDougal Street. He worked for a time as an electrical engineering technician at a biology lab at Columbia University, and later as a carpenter and handyman. Ian was married from 1957 to 1968 to Eva-Lee Baird who raised their son Noah Baird and daughter Freedom Baird.
Ian suffered throughout his adult life with the illness of schizophrenia at a time when it was less understood and more difficult to treat. He spent a lot of time writing, and also walking, and would often cover several miles in a day. Despite the ravages of the illness he allowed for reconnection to family when there was access and opportunity, especially as an older man in his 60s, 70s and 80s. With support and encouragement he was able to join with family regularly on outings, and for get-togethers and holidays.
Always a football fan, Ian rooted for the Giants when he lived in New York City, became a Steelers fan during his fifteen years in Pittsburg, PA, and came around to enjoying the Patriots during his final fifteen years in Boston, Cambridge, and Medford.
Because of his illness Ian never accumulated assets or money, but he was generous, and was the biggest tipper in the family. He would cluck if anyone tipped a waitress or waiter less than 20% and would dig in his wallet to put more money on the table. Despite his illness, and the anxieties and torments it waged in his mind, he was thoughtful and gracious, sharing food, asking after family members’ health, and offering his jacket to keep a loved one warm on a cold day.
Throughout his life Ian was treated with skill and kindness by hundreds of doctors, nurses, social workers, therapists, nutritionists, aides, and other healthcare providers. And during the last 30 years of his life Ian was housed and cared for by the skillful, caring and loving staff of four homes: St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality in Pittsburg, PA, Ruggles Assisted Living in Boston, MA, Neville Place Assisted Living in Cambridge, MA, and Courtyard Nursing Care Center in Medford, MA.
Ian’s sister Nona Yarden passed away in 2020, and his brother-in-law, Elie Yarden, passed away two days before him, on September 5. Ian died at the age of 86 of natural causes on September 7, 2022, and was accompanied in his last hours by his daughter and the devoted care providers at Courtyard Nursing Care Center.
Ian is survived by his daughter Freedom Baird and grandchildren Jupiter Thomas Westbard and Karma Rose Westbard of Cambridge, MA, his son Noah Baird of New York City, his son Don Bender and grandsons Eric and Matt Bender of San Ramon, CA, his nephew Tal Yarden and grand-nephew Fox Ivo Yarden of Brooklyn, NY, his nephew Guy Yarden of Cambridge, MA, and his nephew Seth Yarden, niece Tomoko Terashita, and grand-nephews Yosuke and Akira Terashita, all of Cambridge, MA.