The Venerable J. Stannard Baker was born in Manhattan, Kan., on May 3, 1946, and died suddenly in Louisville, Ky., on June 24, 2025. Stan was predeceased by his parents, Hermione and Clarence Baker; his brother Hugh Baker; and his father-in-law, Leo Harrigan. He is survived by his husband, Peter Harrigan; his sister and brother-in-law Jane and John Franklin; his nephews, Edward, Michael, and Jamie Franklin, and their spouses and children; his mother-in-law, Suzanne Harrigan; his sisters-in-law, Peg Harrigan and Anne Vernon, and their children and grandchildren; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Michael and Cheryl Harrigan and their children and grandchildren; his chosen son, B.J. Rogers, and wife Erin Galloway; his chosen daughter, Carrie Tewksbury; his goddaughters, Tatum Dean and Rebecca Wallace-West; his first spouse, Priscilla Rodabaugh Baker; his beloved cousins in the Allen, Baker, Bulger, Davis, Harrigan, Hyde, Jensen, and Stetson families; and hundreds of cherished friends, colleagues, musical collaborators, neighbors and doll collectors. Stan is also survived by Ginger, who may just be the smartest and sweetest miniature poodle ever.
In 1963, when Stan was a rising senior at Millikan High School in Long Beach, Calif., he was elected to be the school’s “rally chairperson” — a position that allowed him to organize, motivate and inspire his peers. He brought this rally-chair energy to dozens of causes in his subsequent life.
One significant quest was his work in the Marriage Equality movement with his husband, Peter. Stan was the named plaintiff in the Baker v. State lawsuit that led to civil unions, the first-ever significant legal recognition of same-gender couples in the United States. Another was the life of service he entered when ordained to the Diaconate of the Episcopal Church on January 6, 2009. Stan used his sermons to help congregants understand a complex present and work toward a more just future. His generosity of spirit and constant good intent led to positions in the Diocese of Vermont such as Archdeacon and Chaplain to Retired Clergy; and in the national church as a member of the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music and later as the only Deacon elected to the Executive Council.
As a professional, he had a profound impact on countless people as a preschool teacher at the Otter Creek School, which he cofounded; a registered play therapist; and a licensed mental health counselor working primarily with young people on the autism spectrum and their families. Since it is difficult to encapsulate a life so beautifully and fully lived in a traditional obituary, a website is under development that will include stories about Stan as well as photographs and links to interviews he gave, sermons he delivered and more.
In the meantime, you are invited to attend a service of celebration and thanksgiving for the life of J. Stannard Baker at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 2 Cherry Street, Burlington, Vt., with a reception to follow on-site. All are welcome. Overflow seating will be available at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, 152 Pearl Street, to watch the livestream. Limited parking is available in the cathedral parking lot, with much more available across Cherry Street in the municipal parking garage. Attendees are encouraged to carpool and take public transportation, if possible. Suggested dress is bright, joyous colors and, if you have it, pink.
For those who wish to watch the livestream from their homes, please go to stpaulscathedralvt.org and click on the blue button labeled “view the livestream of our in-person worship here.” The broadcast may begin as early as 10:20 a.m., since several musical selections will be offered as a prelude to the service. The recording will be archived and later available on the cathedral’s YouTube channel. For those who are able, please consider making a donation to the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul — to support its social justice outreach, or a donation to Outright Vermont, an organization that does life-saving and life-changing work daily with LGBTQ+ youth.
If you are unable to donate money (and even if you are able), volunteer for an organization that has meaning to you. Attend a resistance action. Try not to judge others. Listen carefully and love passionately.