James H. Baird, Jr ’73 died on March 4, 2022, in Stamford, Connecticut

(The following was provided by the News Journal on April 14, 2022)

Stamford – James H. Baird Jr, age 70, passed away on March 4, 2022, in Stamford, Connecticut. He was born on March 14, 1951, to James and Betty Baird in Wilmington, Delaware. Jim graduated from Tower Hill School in Wilmington, DE, in the class of 1969, where he was a three-sport all-conference athlete. He received his BA in government and economics from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME.

At Bowdoin, Jim excelled in athletics and academics, and formed friendships that would last his lifetime. Jim was a member of the freshman baseball team and played all four years on the Bowdoin football team (some say that the1970 Bowdoin football team was one of the school’s best ever). That year, Jim was awarded the football program’s Wallace C. Philoon Trophy. His teammates describe him as being a dedicated player and an all-around great guy who was polite, fun, caring, thoughtful, loyal, and supportive. After graduating from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Jim enjoyed a successful forty-year career in the finance industry, holding management positions at Bell Atlantic, Citigroup, Gotham Capital, and PHIQ Group, an Australian-based consulting and financing firm, among others. His most recent business interest at PHIQ was in funding alternative energy.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, James H. and Elisabeth G. Baird of New Canaan, CT., his daughter, Catherine G. Baird of Madison, WI, his sister and brother-in-law, Lisa Baird and C. Scott Birney of New London, PA, four grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Jim was a kind and intelligent man who was interested and well versed in all aspects of life. He was an avid sports enthusiast who loved his friends and family.