Rev. Donald Robert Baird

Rev. Donald Robert Baird, 82, passed away on December 7, 2016 at Scotia Village.

The season of Advent is a period of expectation and hopefulness, and it is in that spirit that Don’s family invites you to celebrate the covenant of grace, reconciliation, and peace.

A memorial service will be Saturday, December 17, 2016 at 11:00 am at Old Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church officiated by the Rev. Deck Guess and the Rev. Robert Bedingfield.  A reception will follow in the evening from 5-6 pm at Scotia Village.

He was born on December 11, 1933 in New Jersey and raised in Ridgefield Park.  His father was John MacGregor Baird, Jr. and his mother Beatrice Lucretia Sprague.  With a grandfather who emigrated from Scotland, Don was proud of his Scottish heritage from the highlands.  His passion for all things Scottish was apparent in his service as the New England Commissioner of the Clan Baird Society and his 1997 publication of The McDowall Saga (although his children are grateful that he did not write about the latest generation of the Baird saga).

Don was baptized at Christ Presbyterian Church in Bayonne, New Jersey on March 25, 1934 (Palm Sunday).  He graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan in 1956.  He then attended New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey and as a student served for a brief time at a church on the Omaha Reservation in Macy, Nebraska.  After graduating from Seminary, he was ordained into the ministry by the Reformed Church in America on June 15, 1958.  He served his first church in Philmont, New York from 1958 to 1962.  In 1963 Don was then called to be the founding pastor of the Massapequa Reformed Church on Long Island.  What initially began with a small group of people who gathered to worship quickly grew in size and vitality and in May 1969 a new sanctuary had been constructed, with the Rev. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale preaching for the dedication service.  From 1972 to 1977 Don served as pastor at the Feasterville Community Church in Pennsylvania.  From 1977 to 1982 he was senior pastor of the historical First Reformed Church of Pompton Plains, New Jersey.  From 1982 to 1990 Don then served as pastor of the Canajoharie Reformed Church in New York's Mohawk valley.  Beginning in 1990 he served as Minister for Witness for the RCA's Synod of Albany and until  2001 served as a denominational executive in the Reformed Church in America's Office of Evangelism in which he facilitated 200 Evangelism-with-Integrity workshops. Although he technically retired, Don continued to serve churches in Tinmouth and Caselton, Vermont. Don possessed a progressive spirit and was glad to be involved with the Reformed Church which strives to be ever reforming.  He was pleased to have represented the RCA when he traveled to the Soviet Union in 1988 as a “peacemaker,” under the auspices of the National Council of Churches.  He was also involved with Church of the Savior in Washington, DC, long before that congregation became known for its unique concept of discipleship.  He was pleased to represent his alma mater on the Board of Trustees of Hope College from 1988 to 1994.

Don is survived by his loving wife, Charlene to whom the family will always be grateful for her love and support.  He is also survived by his sister, Janet (Richard) Weisiger. His memory remains special with his first wife, Christine, with whom he has five children:   Donna (Harold) Delhagen; Debra (Gerard) Deacon; Robert (Ingrid) Baird; Barbara (Dave Wilder) Baird; and David (Holly) Baird.  Don had 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:   Hope College Development Services, P.O. Box 9000, Holland, MI 49422-9000. Please list Rev. Baird's name on the memoriam.

In this Advent season as we prepare to welcome the birth of a savior, we trust He will welcome Donald into his presence.  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom God’s favor rests.

McDougald Funeral Home and Crematorium is serving the family.

www.mcdougald.com