Arthur Baker's Obituary
Arthur Baker
October 10, 1928 — April 14, 2020
Arthur Baker (Art, Archie, Dad, Poppy) was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 10, 1928, the last of four sons to Ben and Mathilda Baker, Sephardic Jewish immigrants from Israel and Izmir, Turkey. His parents owned a popular four-story toy store which they unfortunately lost shortly after his birth during the Great Depression. It came as no surprise when Arthur eventually founded and ran a wholesale novelty sales business (whoopie cushions, Halloween masks, dribble glasses, the works) years later to support his own growing family of his beautiful wife Ilene (Stolberg) and his two sons Mitchell and Glenn after their move from Sheepshead Bay’s Avenue W to Merrick, Long Island.
Mitchell and Glenn remember their father as the best sports dad ever since he would always be there to watch them and give emotional support but never inject himself into the games. They also were astounded, throughout their lives, at how much their father knew about such a wide range of topics. For instance, if you asked him about a movie, any movie, he knew who was in it and who composed the music.
After losing Ilene to cancer at the young age of 53 and selling his business, Arthur moved to sunny Delray Beach, Florida and enjoyed a loving long-term relationship with Phyllis Levy a few condos away. In later years, his son, Mitchell, lived with him and they found that the time spent together made them closer and more appreciative of each other, especially recently. The apples of his eye, however, were his granddaughters, Leenie and Gillian. Their more-than-twenty annual visits (along with Glenn, and his wife, Pattie, who he always thought of as his own daughter) were among the highlights of his year as they all went to TooJays Deli and Applebee’s, and listened to him play jazz by ear on his electric keyboard.
Always quick with a mambo dance move (even recently), a flick of your ear or an eyebrow raise, Arthur was beloved by friends and family alike. He defied rules, overcame obstacles, and achieved the impossible again and again while remaining witty, sharp, and fun. There is no doubt that he lived life on his own terms.
Arthur Baker died peacefully on April 14, 2020 of coronavirus. He was 91 years old. In lieu of flowers, please watch a movie with your loved ones or put on some music and dance.
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