John Milnes Baker, an award-winning architect and writer, has died peacefully at his home in South Kent, Connecticut at the age of 93 (and 5/6th).
Mr. Baker was born in Brookhaven, Long Island, on Bellport Bay to his parents, Alan Griffin Baker and Lucy Hayden Milnes. He grew up sailing on the Great South Bay, where he formed many lifelong friendships and began his love of folk songs, history and architecture.
He graduated from the Hill School in Pottstown, Penn., in 1951 and received his Batchelor of Arts from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt., in 1955. He earned his Master’s Degree in Architecture from Columbia University in 1960 and enjoyed emeritus status with the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
His architectural career concentrated on residential design, encompassing both new houses and remodeling. He was licensed in 12 states, and he designed hundreds of homes and projects for many happy clients. He authored several books on architecture, including “How to Build a House with an Architect,” which was published in 1977 and republished in 1988, and “American House Styles: A Concise Guide,” which was published in 1994 and republished in 2018. This latter book—illustrated with the author’s drawings and photographs—helps readers sort through the many historical and regional house styles found throughout the country. It served as the curriculum for a course he taught at The New School in New York City and later led to a four-part video series he prepared for the AIA in 2022, “The History of the American House.”
Baker’s work has appeared in numerous architectural journals over the years. Three of his designs were among Better Homes and Gardens Home Plan Ideas’ “Top Ten All-Time Favorites.” One of these houses, “an elegantly simple contemporary salt-box,” was featured as their “Readers’ All-Time Favorite.”
His passions extended far beyond architecture. With a lifelong interest in family genealogy, he was a self-proclaimed “storyteller of the tribe” and authored “A Knickerbocker Legacy: The Baker Family and the Edgar Family of Rahway New Jersey and New York City,” which was published in 1972 and updated and expanded in 2024. He was an active member of several historical and genealogical organizations over the years and previously served as president of The Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York.
He also wrote “The Case for Edward de Vere as the real William Shakespeare,” which explores the Shakespeare authorship question. More information on architecture, his house projects, Shakespeare and other topics can be found on his website, http://www.johnmilnesbaker.com.
Throughout his life, he collected music and folk songs and shared them in gatherings stretching from New York City to nearby Bulls Bridge Inn, throughout New England to an annual assembly of the Inishowen Singers in Ballyliffin, Ireland. He once counted a repertoire of over 1,000 songs—at which point he stopped counting. His prodigious memory endured until he passed on.
He will also be remembered for his love of sailing on Long Island Sound, his hikes through the Litchfield Hills, his wonderful hand drawn trail maps, his guitar playing and his talents as a carpenter and artist. But most of all he will be remembered for the example he set of a life well lived—deeply engaged with family, loved ones and friends both old and new; ever-curious about new people, history and stories; adventurous always on trails and water; a spark of humor, and present in and appreciative of time truly spent with one another.
John Milnes Baker is survived by his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Morrison Baker (Liddy), as well as his children and their families, Ian Baker, Jennifer (Chris) Warren, Jamie (Tricia) Baker and Hayden (Lauren) Baker, as well as eight grandchildren Florian (Cierra) Dotti, Emma (Julian) Hungerbuehler, Lucy Warren, and Lilly, Alex, Carter, Hadley and Tyler Baker – and a soon-to-arrive great grandson, Kylian Dotti.
A celebration of his life is being planned for later this fall.
I first met John when I interviewed him for an article in the GTD. He and Liddy were new to Kent but quickly became an integral part of the community. I remember when John was invited to the Kent Informal Club to sing and talk about Sea Shanty’ss. And I once had the privilege of being invited to one of the folk singing gatherings at his house.
I had the privilege of working with Liddy on the Board of the informal Club.
John, I’m going to miss your lively and interesting conversations—especially when we disagreed! Mainly because we agreed it was OK to disagree and we were both entitled to our own opinions.
Liddy, my heart goes out to you followed by a warm hug. I know somewhat how you feel, having been there, and how hard the next few years will be.
The anger you will feel is real, it is painful, and it is part of the healing and grieving process. When it overwhelmed me I got help—it was the best thing I’ve done for myself. If you begin feeling overwhelmed I can’t offer any better advice than finding someone you trust and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
John donated his skill and creativity to design the Kent Welcome Center. He was wonderful to work with and clearly took great pride in the project. And best of all, we became good friends. So sad to hear of his passing