David (Edward) Baker

David Edward Baker, 53, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2018. David was born on October 22nd, 1964 in Lansing, MI, to Steven Baker and Phyllis Ebeling, who raised him with love alongside his older siblings, Mark and Amy in St. Louis, MO. David was known from the earliest age for his huge heart, easy charm, tireless work ethic and natural talent as a top athlete and student. From the age of 13, he worked at his family’s business, Strikemore Bowling Lanes, where his personality and smile won over many loyal customers. David graduated with high honors from Wentzville High School and attended college on a baseball scholarship. David earned a J.D. MBA from University of Missouri and served as Kansas City’s Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. In 1994, he met fellow attorney, Jessica Shulman (Baker), who turned out to be the love of his life and whom he married in 1999. David joined the private industry as Chief Compliance Officer for GE Insurance, Chief Compliance Officer and Group General Counselor for The Travelers Companies, and Chief Compliance Officer of Centene Corporation.

Although David attained the highest ranks and respect in his career as an attorney and senior executive, his professional achievements paled in comparison to the only thing that ever truly mattered to him: his wife and children, who were his life’s greatest treasures. David will always be remembered for his unconditional love and single-minded devotion to his family. He will be remembered by his friends, colleagues and community for his generosity of heart and spirit, integrity, intellect, charm, wit and never-ending capacity to help others personally and professionally. Besides his family, David’s greatest passions were watching his kids play sports, fast cars, the St. Louis Cardinals, the KC Chiefs, racing motorcycles, shopping at Costco, his dogs, Hazel and Myles, Hostess snowballs, donuts and milkshakes, adventure traveling, Pappy’s BBQ, heavy metal music, watching UFC and MMA fighting, and playing every sport imaginable. David is survived by his wife, Jessica (Shulman) Baker; his children, Eden Rose, Eli Ray and Bailey Hannah; his brother, Mark Baker; his sister, Amy Sitze, and his father, Steven and step-mother, Sandy Baker; his in-laws, Caryl and Dick Shulman, Micki and Wayne Hendricks, Noah and Jemma, as well as his extraordinary friends who have been at his side every moment of this journey. We also express our deepest gratitude to the incredible neuro-oncology team at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the hospice and oncology team at St. Francis Hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, August 17, in the Sanctuary of Congregation Kol Haverim, 1079 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury with Rabbi Kari H. Tuling officiating. Interment will follow in Congregation Kol Haverim Cemetery, 1361 Berlin Turnpike, Wethersfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of David Baker to support Dr. David Reardon’s Neuro-Oncology Research Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284. Please write checks to Dana-Farber and include Dr. Reardon’s fund in the memo section. To give online, please visit www.dfci.org/give. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for David, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.