David Baillie

CHESHIRE, CT - David Baillie, 90, passed away peacefully on Friday July 1, 2011. Born on August 4, 1920 in Providence RI, he was the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Tanish) Baillie. He was predeceased by his three brothers, Robert, Donald and Richard all of Rhode Island. He is survived by a sister, Jessie Brown of Massachusetts. For over fifty years Dave was the loving husband of Edith (Lund) Baillie, his childhood sweetheart, who predeceased him in 1997. David is survived by his son, Donald Baillie and his wife Cathy of Cheshire; his daughter Deborah DeDominicis and her husband Alan of Cheshire; three grandchildren, Thomas Baillie of Sumter, SC, Victoria Baillie of Cheshire and Oliver DeDominicis of Cheshire.

Dave was a proud World War II Navy veteran, serving from 1938 to 1945 aboard the cruiser USS Cincinnati and the destroyer USS Foote in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. His naval career truly allowed him to see the world, visiting Casablanca, Brazil, Uruguay, Pearl Harbor, HI, Guam, The Philippines and numerous US ports on both coasts.

After the war ended Dave returned to his home in Rhode Island and along with Edith attended Brown University, graduating in 1950. Dave loved his days at Brown, living in wartime housing known as "Brown Town" with the other married veterans attending on the GI Bill. Following college Dave went to work for Graybar Electric and then the US Rubber Co as well as teaching a business course at Bryant College. In 1962 a career change to Atlantic Refining Co brought him and his young family to Cheshire, CT where he resided the rest of his life. Upon retirement from ARCO he started his own natural gas and propane brokerage business which he successfully ran until his ultimate retirement in 1992.

Shortly thereafter Dave and Edith headed to Florida for a life of golf and good weather at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens. Their winter home became a destination for friends and family but eventually the pull of grandchildren brought them back to Cheshire on a full time basis. However, Dave and Edith did continue to travel the world visiting Europe, Scotland, Mexico, Asia and the Caribbean acquiring treasures and family gifts wherever they went.

Dave loved all sports, taking up golf in his later years. He could usually be heard to call out after every shot: "any idea?" During the '70s and '80s Dave was bitten by the tennis bug to the extent of building a court in his backyard. He and his buddies played every Sunday morning and their grunting and laughter could be heard throughout the neighborhood.

A lifelong and ardent Red Sox fan he managed to attend games from the 1920's through the 2000's seeing all the great players of those eras. He took great joy in the 2004 and 2007 World Series Championships and was always especially pleased when the Sox beat the Yankees.

Dave loved small children and few got by him without being squeezed, pinched or even bitten, much to the horror of their mothers; but the kids seemed to love it as they often came back and offered up their arm or cheek for more.

Dave was a prodigious reader who loved history and poetry and could still recite poems he learned in grade school. His great memory also allowed him to name all of the Presidents of the United States in order and all of the state alphabetically with their capitols, a feat that he took great pride in and that amazed others.

Dave came from a family of carpenters and loved making and refinishing furniture and other items for his children even managing to build a sailboat that resulted in many hours of fun and excitement.

During retirement Dave and Edith invested in land and rental properties which allowed him, to his great pleasure, to own and operate an assortment of tractors, snow plows, mowers, a golf cart and other tools and equipment. He could frequently be seen mowing his field on his tractor on warm summer days.

Dave was a great story teller and kidder who loved to regale anyone who would listen with tales of his travels, Navy career and family. He was a regular every morning at the local McDonald's where he and the other veterans of his era laughed and talked all the way to lunch time.

A wonderful father, coach, friend and fierce protector of his family, Dave was a kind and generous man and will be missed by all who knew him.

Arrangements - Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 6, 2011 9:30 a.m. at the Alderson Funeral Home of Cheshire 615 S. Main St. Burial will follow in Cheshire Hillside Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Edith Baillie Endowed Scholarship, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205-2110.