Obituary: William Kevin Baker, 67, Of Fairfield

Information via Lesko & Polke Funeral Home

William Kevin Baker, age 67 of Fairfield, beloved husband of Margaret "Peggy" Callahan Baker, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, June 23, 2019.

Kevin was born in Montclair, New Jersey. His family moved several times in his early years due to his father's career, a MIT engineer, William Harvey "Bill" was involved with power/energy facilities in New Jersey, Ohio and Delaware.

Once in high school he was back in the family hub, the Main Line of Philadelphia. He graduated from Radnor High School, a Scholar Athlete excelling in track and field and the game of football. He was awarded the prestigious "Philadelphia Golden 11 Award" for football and was heavily recruited for his gridiron talent.

Kevin attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Finance and minoring in Fine Art where in 1974 he met his beloved wife of 43 years, Margaret "Peggy" Callahan a Penn nursing student.

Kevin and Peggy married in June 1975. Kevin spent the next decade working for the privately owned French fashion brand Chanel in sales management on both the East and West Coasts. Kevin was involved in other high end fashion houses Ralph Lauren, Hermes, Christian Dior and Annick Goutal.

In 1983 Kevin and the former president of Chanel, Sanford Roland launched Swatch Watch USA. The watch was an engineering feat in Switzerland but the pair utilized a unique and creative merchandizing strategy tying the watch to exciting "extreme sports" and POP art to create a US market sensation. Kevin, Vice President of Sales for Swatch Watch spent much time in Switzerland.

After Swatch, he went to Kellwood Company developing a men's performance line with high tech fabrics. This career move led him to work with several urban and streetwear companies.

In recent years, Kevin has been consulting for start-up companies contributing his formal business education to their development and success. Mr. Baker has served on the Board of the Discovery Museum and volunteered many years at Wakeman Boys and Girls Club. He has been a member of the Penn Club of New York where many family events were celebrated.

Kevin has been a 25 year member of the Pequot Yacht Club serving on many club committees, enjoying the sport of sailing and the camaraderie of the members. He would be found working on his 1969 C&C "Woodstock" or preparing to sail away with Peggy. The best of times were Pequot club cruises or mini cruises to PJ or Block.

Kevin was instrumental in bringing high school sailing to Pequot with the Fairfield Prep Team. He served on the board of NESA (New England Sailing Association) and the executive board of ISSA (Intra Scholastic Sailing Association).

Kevin created the Fairfield County Sailing League enabling many high school teams to develop and compete locally in preparation for regional and national regattas. In 1999 Kevin established the Fairfield Cup Regatta bringing the competition home to Pequot with a cup dedicated to "Excellence in Youth Sailing".

Kevin is survived by his wife Peggy, his son William Bryan (Kristen) Baker of Cohasset, MA, his daughter Dr. Amanda Elisabeth Baker (Christian Wentz) of Providence RI, three grandsons, Liam Charles Baker, Declan Bryan Baker and baby William Bjorn Baker Wentz, mother Elizabeth Green Baker, of Chapel Hill NC, his brother, Howard Stewart Baker of Lake Hopatcong and sister Barbara Baker Pater of Chapel Hill NC, 18 nieces and nephews, and 6 great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father William Harvey " Bill " Baker.

A celebration of his life will be held on Friday at 11 am directly at St. Thomas Church, Post Road, Fairfield.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wakeman Boys and Girls Club, c/o 268 Post Road, 2nd floor, Fairfield, CT 06824.

Arrangements in the care of the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home. To sign an online register or to get travel directions, visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com