James D. 'Jim' Baker, Ph.D., CPE Obituary (1928

James D. "Jim" Baker of Potomac, MD and formerly of Morgantown, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home and with his family at his side on Friday, September 3, 2021 at the age of 92. He was born December 7,1928 in Philadelphia, PA, a son of the late Delbert W. Baker and the late Irene O'Connell Baker. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Bette L. Baker, his son Christopher Baker, and three brothers, Bill, Ron and Hank. Jim is survived by his sisters Shirley Thomas and Jackie Tatterson of Charlotte, NC; his daughter Patricia Quessenberry of Willis, VA and his two granddaughters Renie Gates and Megan Gates; his daughter Deborah Burke of Thurmont, MD and his granddaughter Katie Bramble and his grandson Patrick Burke. He also leaves behind three great grandsons and one great granddaughter. He is an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He is a retired Captain Infantry U.S. Army. His education was received at Saint Martin de Tours Catholic Grammar School and Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia, PA. He has a bachelors degree (BA) and Master of Arts (MA) and Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D.). His college education was received at the West Virginia University, the Ohio State University, and the Catholic University of America. He was a USAF research psychologist who worked in the MIT Lincoln Laboratory on the design and implementation of the world's first and largest interactive and networked computer air defense system (the USAF SAGE system) ever built and subsequently worked on the research and development of the North American Air Defense System (NORAD COC) located in Colorado Springs, CO. He subsequently worked as a civilian research psychologist on the U.S, Army's mobile computerized command and control system (C&C) operating out of Heidelberg, Germany. After that system was designed and field tested he returned to the U.S. where he worked as a research psychologist in the U.S. Army's Research Institute (ARI) until his government retirement. After retiring as a government research psychologist he worked as a Vice President and research and development psychologist for a small R&D company...the Allen Corporation of America ...and he later worked as a R&D scientist for a large industrial corporation the Singer Corporation. While a scientist with the Army Research Institute he simultaneously was in the evening a human factors lecturer in the Master's Degree program at the George Washington University and in the summer program as visiting lecturer at Georgia Tech. After retiring from the government he was an invited professor in Human Factors in the System's Engineering Master's Degree Program at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Dr. Baker served for three years on the original Scientific Advisory Panel of the National Institute for Health's (NIH) National Institute for Aging's (NIH) Project CREATE ...a multidisciplinary and collaborative center founded in 1999. It is dedicated to ensure that the benefits of technology can be realized by older adults to support and enhance the independence, productivity, health, safety, social connectedness and quality of life of older people. The center strives to develop and evaluate interventions and design solutions to promote successful technology adoption among older adults.. CREATE is a consortium of five universities: The lead University was the University of Miami, Florida and included Florida State University and Georgia Tech University among the original consortium of CREATE and later added the University of Illinois and Cornell University to this research consortium. When he was recalled to active duty during the Korean War his friend's promised that if he came home in a casket they would be sure that his tombstone had on it his favorite opening quote from Sabatini's book Scaramouche ...."He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad." Family and friends will join to honor Jim's life and legacy at a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial which will be said at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 917 Montrose Rd., Rockville, MD on Friday, October 1st, 2021 at 10:00 AM followed by a reception at the church. Following the Mass and reception, family and friends will meet at 12:50 PM at the office of Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD and process to the graveside where Jim will then be laid to rest with Full Military Honors accorded. Professional services and guidance for the family is being provided by Smith Funeral & Cremation Care, 108 Holland Ave., Morgantown, WV. Personal condolences and other symbolic gestures for the family may be offered at www.smithfcc.com. Interment Location Friday, October 1st, 2021 1:00pm, Gate of Heaven Cemetey 13801 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring, Maryland 20906