Duncan Baer

Obituary Dr. Duncan Theodore "Ted" Baer, 85, went home to be with the Lord after a years-long struggle with Alzheimer's-type dementia. His kind, humble, and patient spirit remained even as his memories and speech faded away. Ted was born on March 13, 1931 to parents Rose Cordelia and Earl Ernest Baer. He had one sibling, Earl Baer Jr. His family lived in Port Angeles where his father had found work during the Great Depression as a bacteriologist for the Angeles Cooperative Creamery. His father died when he was 14, and his mother supported the family by working at a bottling works and by leading a band that played hit parade songs for dances on weekend nights. His parents, his family, his church, and the beautiful surroundings of the Olympic Peninsula fostered a faith in God and love of God's Creation. Growing up during World War II, he watched fighter pilots train over the Strait of Juan de Fuca and developed a fascination with aviation. He spent many days fishing, hunting, and skiing in the Olympic Mountains and later shared his love of the outdoors with his wife, children, and friends. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1949. After a year at his father's alma mater, Washington State College (later named WSU), he moved to Seattle and enrolled at the University of Washington and joined the Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC). He soon met his future wife Maryln, and the two married in 1955 at St. Mary's church in Aberdeen WA. He earned his MD degree at the University of Washington Medical School in 1957, a year after his and Maryln's first child was born. Dr. Baer's military and medical career took him and his family throughout the country; each of their five children was born in a different city - Seattle WA (Ted), Washington DC (Tim), Nellis Air Force Base NV (Pam), San Leandro CA (Kim), and Tacoma WA (Tom). After a medical residency in Arlington VA, he and Maryln moved their growing family to Nellis Air Force Base where he was a flight surgeon for the US Air Force Thunderbirds for three years. These years were some of the most exciting and most difficult of his life, and produced many stories for his children and grandchildren. In San Leandro he completed a residency in ophthalmology. In Tacoma, he began private practice as one of the first ophthalmologists in Tacoma. Following his love of aviation, he earned a private pilot's license in 1970 while maintaining his credential as a flight surgeon. He was one of the founding doctors at Allenmore Medical Center, and president of the Pierce County Medical Society in 1977. Dr. Baer was a highly respected eye surgeon known for his skill, humility, generosity, humor, and bedside manner. He performed thousands of surgeries and always kept pace with the latest developments in medical science and ophthalmic procedures. He and Maryln were some of the earliest members of Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Tacoma, and they were active supporters of St. Charles and Bellarmine. He was also a member of the Fircrest Planning Commission, a soccer coach, a Boy Scout volunteer, a member of the Ski Patrol at White Pass, and an active member of Fircrest Golf Club where he and his family enjoyed countless hours golfing and socializing with some of their dearest friends. A lifelong lover of the outdoors, he reached the top of Mt. Rainier, Adams, St. Helens, and Baker, always with at least one of his children. His children and many of their friends have fond memories of skiing, flying, hiking, camping, boating, and climbing with Ted. He is survived by his loving wife and companion of 61 years, Maryln, his five children - Ted (Anne), Tim (Lisa), Pam (Peter), Kim (Todd), Tom (Lynn) - 15 grandchildren - Bryce (Johnna), Andrew, Maggie, Anna, Amy, Kevin, Matthew, Scott, Christopher, Sam, Caroline, Jonathan, Brian, Ryan, and Amelia and one great-grandchild - Peter John. He was preceded in death by his parents - Rose, Earl - and his older brother, Earl Jr. His sense of humor, humility, and kindness will be greatly missed and will remain an example for many. Dr. Baer's family would like to thank Peter and Josephine Mburugu, as well as the staff at Living Life Adult Family Home, for their warm and competent care during the last years of his life. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Tacoma on July 11th at 11:00 am, with inurnment at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to St. Charles Borromeo Parish, St Patrick's Parish, or Bellarmine Prep. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.