Philip G Baker

Philip Greeley Baker, long-time resident of Waterbury, VT and current resident of Venice, FL passed away at the age of 81 on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in the loving company of his two daughters, Nicole Rose and Katie Higgins. Phil was born on May 2, 1944 in Brattleboro, VT. He was the 3rd of 6 children born to Newton & Elaine Baker of Wilmington, VT. He spent most of his life living in Waterbury, VT and graduated from Waterbury High School in 1962. He received his Bachelor's degree from Stetson University, where he worked as a French Teacher, in 1966, and spent the 1964 academic year studying at the University of Strasburg, France where he celebrated his 21st birthday. He also studied at Emory University and the University of Maine, before completing his education by receiving his Masters Degree from the University of Vermont in 1971. Prior to completing his Master's Degree he was employed as a French Teacher at Lamoille Union and was the Foreign Language Department Chairman at Harwood Union from 1969-1976. He left the field of education and opened PGB Plantings, his own landscaping business, in 1976. He was well known for his extraordinary "green thumb" and not only created magazine picture-worthy flower beds at his own residences, but also did considerable gardening for many friends and local businesses in Waterbury and beyond. In 1983 he joined The Vermont Realty Exchange where he was a Realtor until 1998. In 1999, he started working at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters before retiring in 2011. An avid sports enthusiast his entire life, Phil played four years each of high school and college soccer. He was proud to be one of the only Freshman to make the team at Stetson University, where his parents would occasionally make the trip all the way from Vermont to watch him play, during one of which games he scored a goal. He also played high school basketball and was baseball manager for 3 years. Other high school activities included Boys' State, being Class President (3 yrs), and President of Student Council and French Club. He continued his soccer career by coaching the boys' JV soccer team a number of years at Harwood Union. After coaching, he became a member of the Vermont Soccer Officials Assoc. in 1977 and in 1983 started refereeing at the collegiate level. As in other areas of his life, he handled criticism from coaches or fans with a witty tongue, often responding to complaints of his calls with responses such as, "well there's another blown chance at a perfect game." Philip married Karen Hoskiewicz on June 20, 1970; together they had 2 daughters, Nicole Ann (1975) and Katie Noel (1977). They enjoyed many years together gathering with family and friends, traveling to Cape Cod, and playing golf at Blush Hill Country Club. They divorced in 1990 but remained good friends to present day and still continued to celebrate holidays & gatherings and take family vacations together. He started 'snow-birding' between Vermont and Florida in 2014, before moving there full time in 2021. His lifelong dream to escape the cold temps of the north becoming a reality when he purchased his home at Country Club Estates in Venice, FL where he was surrounded with a plethora of good friends and outdoor activities. He spent days playing pickleball, riding his bike, gardening, participating in water clean-up for the City of Venice, doing beach yoga, and looking for shark teeth on the area beaches. He weathered three hurricanes in the last five years and still loved the CCE community enough to call it his home. He was living his best life there, even winning a pickleball game with a long-time friend on the Friday afternoon before his passing. For enjoyment, Phil loved watching sports, whether college, professional, or those of his daughters and grandchildren. His favorite teams included the Boston Red Sox, UCONN women's basketball, and NE Patriots. He also enjoyed watching professional golf, and despite his lack of patience whilst playing, played at the amateur level, with his biggest claim to fame in the sport being a Hole in One on the 4th hole at BHCC. Other interests included travel, reading, particularly historical or political genres, crossword puzzles, bird-watching, and squirrel & woodchuck battling. He had a sense of humor that was often the life of the party. He made everyone laugh, ordering quarts, as opposed to pints offered on the menu, just to make staff do the conversion. He had a love and appreciation for cheese, from the very best Cabot to Cheez Whiz in a jar. For nearly 40 years, he loved going to Woody's Venison Saloon Deer Camp, sometimes 3 or 4 times a year. He looked forward to the comradery, having a few beers/drinks and stories with good friends and neighboring camps. Although he seldom remembered to bring his gun, and certainly shot more bull than he did deer. He is survived by his daughter, Nicole and son-in-law, Matt Rose (Bridport, VT); daughter, Katie and son-in-law Jeff Higgins (Brookfield, VT); Grandchildren, Chase, Tanner and Mia Higgins (Brookfield, VT) and Siblings Diane Harper (Burnt Hills, NY); Newton & Diane Baker (Montpelier, VT); Martha Fiske (Waterbury Ctr., VT); Brenda & Louie Messier (Waterbury, VT); Don & Maureen Baker (Ketchum, ID) as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. A Memorial Service will be held at the Congregational Church in Waterbury on July 18th at 11:00 a.m. It will be immediately followed by a Celebration of Life at Farr's Field located at 1901 US-2 W, Waterbury, VT. Although his passing was sudden and unexpected, we take comfort in knowing he was living his best life in Florida, on his terms, doing the things he loved and surrounded by so many wonderful friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a bush or a shrub in his memory, per his request.

Philip G Baker

May 2, 1944 - March 15, 2026