Charles F. Baird of Bridgehampton dies at 87

Charles F. Baird of Bridgehampton and Skillman, New Jersey, died December 26 at his New Jersey home. He was 87.

He was born in Southampton to George and Julia (née Fitz) Baird, both of whose families have deep historical roots on the East End. Mr. Baird’s grandfather, Benjamin Baird, built many of the first generation of large houses in the area and his mother’s family, the Fitzes, whose history dates back to the 1600s, ran the livery in Southampton.

Mr. Baird served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Asian Pacific theater during World War II and also in the Korean War. A 1944 graduate of Middlebury College, he was honored with the college’s Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award in 1984.

He worked with Inco Limited, the Canadian metals and mining company for 18 years—initially as chief financial officer, then president and as chairman and chief executive officer from 1980 to 1987. Before that he served as assistant secretary of Financial Management for the U.S. Navy and then as under secretary of the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1969. Prior to his government service, he spent 18 years in international finance with Exxon (Standard Oil of New Jersey), including executive positions in Paris and London.

Mr. Baird was chairman of the board of trustees of Bucknell University from 1976 to 1982 and served on the board for 27 years. Bucknell University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1986 and the university’s highest honor, the Stephen Taylor Medal for Extraordinary Service to the University, in 1995.

He also served on the boards of Aetna, the Bank of Montreal, the Logistics Management Institute and the Marine Corps University Foundation; was a member of the President’s Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources, the Board of Advisors of the Naval War College, the Council of Foreign Relations; and was chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Center for Naval Analysis from 1992 to 1997.

A devoted racquets enthusiast and competitor, he won 23 national senior titles in platform tennis. He was inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Norma (née White) Baird; two daughters, Susan Creyke of Maryland and Nancy Harwood of New Jersey; two sons, Stephen Baird of Purchase, New York, and Charles Baird Jr. of Connecticut; two sisters, Anne Lee of New Jersey and Barbara Swift of Tennessee; a brother, George Baird of Massachusetts; and eight grandchildren.

A memorial celebration will be held in Bridgehampton in July. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Bucknell University, Baird Family Scholarship, c/o the Development Office, Lewisburg, PA 17837 would be appreciated by the family.