Jane Baker, left, and Ruth Freeh share a friendly moment in the apartment lounge at Otterbein North Shore.

Jane Baker - A life devoted to love and longevity

By Barbara Radebaugh, regional director of development at Otterbein North Shore

Born in West Virginia, Jane was only months old when her family moved to Columbus where, as a teenager, she met and fell in love with Lee Baker. A soft-spoken woman, Jane shares the tale of her life with Lee and her determination to support him in all of his endeavors.

There was a war going on when Jane and Lee graduated from North High School in 1943. After a year of college, Lee was drafted into the Army and soon left for Seattle, Wash. Jane and Lee's mom took the train to Seattle, so the sweethearts could get married. Since Lee was under 21, mom had to give permission for her son to marry. Soon Lee was sent to Okinawa, and Jane went home to Columbus. When Lee returned, they started a family becoming the proud parents of two boys, Bill and Dick. During this period, Lee also finished college.

With his degree in dairy technology, Lee worked as a chemist at Ross Laboratories, and later formed LK Baker & Co. with his dairy formulas. Lee invented the first non-dairy creamer - PREAM, which is now only sold in California and Hawaii. Jane remembers a trip to Hawaii where Lee insisted that they find PREAM on the grocery shelf!

In the mid-1970s, Dick, the Baker's youngest son, told his parents he wanted to operate a marina at Lake Erie where they had spent so many enjoyable summers. Always risk takers, Lee and Jane agreed to buy Foxhaven Marina on Catawba Island. In traditional Baker fashion according to Jane, "As soon as we bought it, we started expanding it."

Lee also built the members-only Nor'easter Club. Jane wasn't exactly in favor of this idea at first, but later realized "sometimes it was easier [to stop there and eat] than cooking at home!"

When Dick went into the Navy, it was then that their connection to Otterbein North Shore would become evident. While Dick was away, Carl Quisno, who would later move with his wife, Dorothy, to Otterbein North Shore, operated the marina during the week, and Lee and Jane would arrive on the weekends to take over.

Jane and Lee often visited the Quisnos at Otterbein North Shore. When Jane saw an article in the newspaper about the small house concept that Otterbein was introducing, and that a capital campaign was forthcoming, she contacted the office. Development Director Barbara Radebaugh met with Lee and he offered to donate the lead gift for the construction of the house. Lee wanted to honor his wife of 64 years by placing her name on it, formally calling Otterbein North Shore's small house The Jane Baker House. At the 2007 dedication, Jane said, "This concept will have far-reaching impact. We're very proud to be associated with this kind of energy and excitement."

In 2008, Jane and Lee moved to Otterbein North Shore. Unfortunately, Lee passed away in December. Jane has settled into her apartment. "I have all the room I want and I've met some wonderful people."

Apartment neighbor Ruth Freeh took her under her wing, and Jane and Emilie Gulas bonded immediately. Jane said, "It was like we'd known each other all of our lives."

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