In Loving Memory of Mr. Baird

Yes, I already posted about his death, but as a mentor of mine, I think I can post twice. That, and it's my blog. This is his official obituary.

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Roderick A. Baird II of Pelham Manor, NY, educator and author, passed away on February 4th with dignity and grace surrounded by his loving family. He was 62 years old.

Born January 8, 1951 in Utica, New York, he was the son of Jane Baird and the late Roderick Anthony Baird of New Hartford NY. He was a loving friend and older brother to John Baird, Billy Baird, and Andrea Gilbertson. He is survived by his wife of 37 years Nancy, their 3 daughters Megan, Tara and Lesley and a granddaughter Genevieve. He is also survived by son-in laws John Sutton and Paul Tusting and several nieces and nephews

Rod had a long, successful, and fulfilling career. He spent over twenty-five years in the magazine business. He worked for The New Yorker from 1975 until 1988 in the advertising sales and marketing departments, rising to National Sales Director. In 1988, he founded SalesConcepts Associates, Inc., a national publishers rep firm that develops markets for consumer magazines. In 1996, looking further for an outlet that reflected both of his passions for athletics and media, Rod created The Natural Athlete LLC, a sports event-marketing group and magazine, The Natural Athlete. In 2000, he sold his majority interest in these companies to pursue his real passion, teaching. For the last eleven years Rod Baird has been a high school English teacher at Ardsley High School. His experiences in the classroom inspired his book, Counterfeit Kids: Why High School Students Can’t Think. Rod Baird was also an avid skier. He was a mogul freestyle coach and ski instructor at Stratton Mountain VT for more than 20 years. He has inspired kids of all ages to fall in love with skiing, to conquer their fears and most importantly to have fun. Rod Baird lived his life to the fullest and used every opportunity to learn and teach life’s lesson to his students.

Rod was an accomplished entrepreneur, educator and author but most of all he was a loving family man and friend.

Rod Baird graduated form New Hartford High in 1969, and in 1973 from St. Lawrence University with a BA. in English and German. He spent his junior year abroad attending the University of Vienna, Austria. He was a proud brother of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. It was his passion for literature and writing that led him to earn his MFA in Creative Writing from Brooklyn College and latter obtained his teaching certification from Columbia University Teachers College.