1945
BARBARA
2010
BARBARA A. BAKER
April 23, 1945 — October 20, 2010
Barbara A. Baker, 65 of Montville Twp. passed away after an extended illness on Monday, October 18, 2010 at the Cleveland Clinic surrounded by her loving family. She was born August 23, 1945 in Lorain, Ohio to Alvin and Betty (nee Harden) Baker and was Director of Family Planning for the Center for Community Solutions in Cleveland.
She enjoyed spending time with her family and devoted her effort and time to her work. She had a passion to provide guidance to those who needed care who otherwise might not have received help. Barbara was a highly respected and dedicated nonprofit executive and leader in the field of family health. A passion for justice, for doing the right thing, was the driving force that guided Barbara throughout her life and her career, whether it involved ensuring high ethics in accounting and management or fighting to ensure that women who needed health care received it.
Barbara joined The Center for Community Solutions in September of 2001 after serving as financial consultant to the organization for over a year. As Director of Finance, she led a staff team that earned the organization certification for excellence by the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations. In 2003, her leadership role expanded as she assumed additional leadership responsibilities as Director of Family Health, overseeing the Federal Title X Family Planning Program in Northeast Ohio. Prior to joining Community Solutions, Barbara worked more than 35 years as a Certified Public Accountant for nonprofit organizations, private businesses, and public accounting firms.
Her public accounting experience included several years of accounting, audit, and management engagements for nonprofit organizations. Barbara's work in the Family Health field was motivated by her committment to ensuring that people living with low financial means have access to the same choices that others have regarding the planning and spacing of their children. She brought a new emphasis to expanding such access beyond traditional services for women, developing special programs to reach out to and extend services to men. She played a key role in securing funding to ensure such services could continue despite economic ups and downs and, often, in the face of societal indifference or hostitility. Barbara approached her goals as a collaborator, always looking for ways to join forces with others to make a greater impact.
She was a dedicated, compassionate leader who mentored others along the way, supporting and celebrating life's milestones with them. Barbara held a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Capital University and a Master's Degree in Management of Nonprofit Organizations from Weatherhead School of Management, Mandel School of Applied Sciences, and the Gund Law School of Case Western Reserve University. She was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. She served on many boards and committees, local, statewide, and national, including the Family Planning Councils of America, Inc., the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, the Ohio Medicaid Family Planning Waiver Coalition, the Coalition for Family Health of Ohio, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services' Medicaid Advisory Group, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland. She also served as Chair of the State of Ohio Attorney General's Charitable Advisory Council.
Barbara is survived by her loving daughters Shawn Baker-Groves (companion Josh Plute) of Medina and Amy Sissler of Lorain; grandchildren Joey Puma and Jazmin and Chance Sissler; and her mother Betty (nee Harden) Baker. She was a loyal friend to many, including her colleagues in nonprofit organizations around the country.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Friends may join the family to share her memory on Friday, October 22, 2010 from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. and 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Carlson Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 3477 Medina Road (Corner of Route 18 & River Styx Road), Medina. Funeral Services will be private. Interment will follow in Wakeman Cemetery. For more information about Barbara’s life and passion, please visit www.carlsonfuneralhomes.com .
Memorial Contributions may be made to The Center for Community Solutions, 1501 Euclid Avenue, Suite 310, Cleveland, Ohio 44115.
She enjoyed spending time with her family and devoted her effort and time to her work. She had a passion to provide guidance to those who needed care who otherwise might not have received help. Barbara was a highly respected and dedicated nonprofit executive and leader in the field of family health. A passion for justice, for doing the right thing, was the driving force that guided Barbara throughout her life and her career, whether it involved ensuring high ethics in accounting and management or fighting to ensure that women who needed health care received it.
Barbara joined The Center for Community Solutions in September of 2001 after serving as financial consultant to the organization for over a year. As Director of Finance, she led a staff team that earned the organization certification for excellence by the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations. In 2003, her leadership role expanded as she assumed additional leadership responsibilities as Director of Family Health, overseeing the Federal Title X Family Planning Program in Northeast Ohio. Prior to joining Community Solutions, Barbara worked more than 35 years as a Certified Public Accountant for nonprofit organizations, private businesses, and public accounting firms.
Her public accounting experience included several years of accounting, audit, and management engagements for nonprofit organizations. Barbara's work in the Family Health field was motivated by her committment to ensuring that people living with low financial means have access to the same choices that others have regarding the planning and spacing of their children. She brought a new emphasis to expanding such access beyond traditional services for women, developing special programs to reach out to and extend services to men. She played a key role in securing funding to ensure such services could continue despite economic ups and downs and, often, in the face of societal indifference or hostitility. Barbara approached her goals as a collaborator, always looking for ways to join forces with others to make a greater impact.
She was a dedicated, compassionate leader who mentored others along the way, supporting and celebrating life's milestones with them. Barbara held a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Capital University and a Master's Degree in Management of Nonprofit Organizations from Weatherhead School of Management, Mandel School of Applied Sciences, and the Gund Law School of Case Western Reserve University. She was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. She served on many boards and committees, local, statewide, and national, including the Family Planning Councils of America, Inc., the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, the Ohio Medicaid Family Planning Waiver Coalition, the Coalition for Family Health of Ohio, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services' Medicaid Advisory Group, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland. She also served as Chair of the State of Ohio Attorney General's Charitable Advisory Council.
Barbara is survived by her loving daughters Shawn Baker-Groves (companion Josh Plute) of Medina and Amy Sissler of Lorain; grandchildren Joey Puma and Jazmin and Chance Sissler; and her mother Betty (nee Harden) Baker. She was a loyal friend to many, including her colleagues in nonprofit organizations around the country.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Friends may join the family to share her memory on Friday, October 22, 2010 from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. and 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Carlson Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 3477 Medina Road (Corner of Route 18 & River Styx Road), Medina. Funeral Services will be private. Interment will follow in Wakeman Cemetery. For more information about Barbara’s life and passion, please visit www.carlsonfuneralhomes.com .
Memorial Contributions may be made to The Center for Community Solutions, 1501 Euclid Avenue, Suite 310, Cleveland, Ohio 44115.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of BARBARA A. BAKER, please visit our flower store.
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