Julia Clayton Baker, whose philanthropic interests enriched Center Stage and helped to beautify the city, died Wednesday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center from complications of a stroke. She was 83.
Mrs. Baker, who lived for many years on Brightside Road in Ruxton before moving in 1996 to Brightwood Retirement Community in Lutherville, pursued a path of quiet philanthropy, wishing not to call attention to herself.
Her contributions to the City allowed for the restoration and installation of plantings in front of Johns Hopkins Hospital and farther north on Broadway. Her contributions also made landscaping possible in front of the Lyric Theater.
"Douglas Tawney, who was director of the city's Department of Recreation and Parks, came to me and said an anonymous donor wants to give $150,000 for plantings, and I asked him who it was," said William Donald Schaefer, who was then mayor and now is state comptroller.
"He said she insisted on remaining anonymous but finally gave me her name. I gave her a call, and she finally agreed to come to City Hall under the conditions that she not be announced and could use a side door and elevator. We gave her a plaque and a silver dish, but she never allowed me to mention her name under any circumstance. And when we finished, she went back down alone. I thought that was simply amazing.
"She never wanted to be prominent, What a great and lovely, lovely lady."
Peter W. Culman, recently retired as Center Stage's managing director, called Mrs. Baker "a long-time subscriber, patron and giver" to the downtown theater.
He recalled in detail his first lunch meeting with Mrs. Baker, who came dressed in a brown herringbone skirt, white blouse and a long tweed jacket. She wore a jade bracelet and kid gloves and carried a pocketbook.
"They were classic clothes, very traditional and becoming." Mr. Culman said. 'Coco Chanel would've approved.
"She said, 'You probably want some money for Center Stage, and I said, yes. We never really discussed Center Stage, and I said we would at our second luncheon. Two days later, a check arrived. She was a spontaneous giver, and we were the recipients of many surprises from this grand lady. However, she insisted that they remain anonymous."
Mr. Culman added; "She was a very graceful woman with a gentle but firm voice. She was a woman who had a conscience and did something about it."
Mrs. Baker's other interests included restoration of the former Enoch Pratt Free Library branch in Charles Village.
Born Julia Clayton in Houston, she was the daughter of William Lockhart Clayton, founder of Anderson Clayton Co. cotton brokers. Her father served as undersecretary of state for economic affairs during the Truman administration.
She was a 1934 graduate of the Spence School in NewYork and received her bachelor's degree in 1938 from Vassar College. She was second in her class at the University of Virginia, where she earned her law degree in 1944, and received a master's degree in law from Georgetown University in 1976.
She was married in l939 to Dr. Benjamin May Baker Jr., a prominent Baltimore internist. Dr. Baker, now retired, survives her.
A tax attorney, Mrs. Baker practiced law at the firm of Covington & Burling in Washington from 1944 to 1946.
In his memoirs, Joel Barlow, a retired partner at Covington & Burling, wrote: "I have no doubt that had she been interested in staying at C & B after the war, she would almost certainly have been C & B's first woman partner."
In Baltimore, Mrs. Baker practiced law as a member of the Legal Aid Bureau from 1948 to 1958.
She was a volunteer at the Pickersgill retirement community in Towson, enjoyed playing golf at the Elkridge Club and was an avid bridge player.
She was a member of the Mount Vernon Club, the Women's .Advisory Committee of the Johns Hopkins University, the Overseers of the University of Maryland Law School and the board of trustees of Mercy Medical Center.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am. tomorrow at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles St.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Baker is survived by two sons, William Clayton Baker of Ruxton and Benjamin May Baker III of Southport, Conn.; two daughters, Susan Baker Powell of Roland Park and Julia Baker Scbnupp of Fells Point: two sisters. Burdine Clayton Johnson of Kyle, Texas, and Susan Clayton McAshan of Houston; nine grandchildren: and three great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Baker, who lived for many years on Brightside Road in Ruxton before moving in 1996 to Brightwood Retirement Community in Lutherville, pursued a path of quiet philanthropy, wishing not to call attention to herself.
Her contributions to the City allowed for the restoration and installation of plantings in front of Johns Hopkins Hospital and farther north on Broadway. Her contributions also made landscaping possible in front of the Lyric Theater.
"Douglas Tawney, who was director of the city's Department of Recreation and Parks, came to me and said an anonymous donor wants to give $150,000 for plantings, and I asked him who it was," said William Donald Schaefer, who was then mayor and now is state comptroller.
"He said she insisted on remaining anonymous but finally gave me her name. I gave her a call, and she finally agreed to come to City Hall under the conditions that she not be announced and could use a side door and elevator. We gave her a plaque and a silver dish, but she never allowed me to mention her name under any circumstance. And when we finished, she went back down alone. I thought that was simply amazing.
"She never wanted to be prominent, What a great and lovely, lovely lady."
Peter W. Culman, recently retired as Center Stage's managing director, called Mrs. Baker "a long-time subscriber, patron and giver" to the downtown theater.
He recalled in detail his first lunch meeting with Mrs. Baker, who came dressed in a brown herringbone skirt, white blouse and a long tweed jacket. She wore a jade bracelet and kid gloves and carried a pocketbook.
"They were classic clothes, very traditional and becoming." Mr. Culman said. 'Coco Chanel would've approved.
"She said, 'You probably want some money for Center Stage, and I said, yes. We never really discussed Center Stage, and I said we would at our second luncheon. Two days later, a check arrived. She was a spontaneous giver, and we were the recipients of many surprises from this grand lady. However, she insisted that they remain anonymous."
Mr. Culman added; "She was a very graceful woman with a gentle but firm voice. She was a woman who had a conscience and did something about it."
Mrs. Baker's other interests included restoration of the former Enoch Pratt Free Library branch in Charles Village.
Born Julia Clayton in Houston, she was the daughter of William Lockhart Clayton, founder of Anderson Clayton Co. cotton brokers. Her father served as undersecretary of state for economic affairs during the Truman administration.
She was a 1934 graduate of the Spence School in NewYork and received her bachelor's degree in 1938 from Vassar College. She was second in her class at the University of Virginia, where she earned her law degree in 1944, and received a master's degree in law from Georgetown University in 1976.
She was married in l939 to Dr. Benjamin May Baker Jr., a prominent Baltimore internist. Dr. Baker, now retired, survives her.
A tax attorney, Mrs. Baker practiced law at the firm of Covington & Burling in Washington from 1944 to 1946.
In his memoirs, Joel Barlow, a retired partner at Covington & Burling, wrote: "I have no doubt that had she been interested in staying at C & B after the war, she would almost certainly have been C & B's first woman partner."
In Baltimore, Mrs. Baker practiced law as a member of the Legal Aid Bureau from 1948 to 1958.
She was a volunteer at the Pickersgill retirement community in Towson, enjoyed playing golf at the Elkridge Club and was an avid bridge player.
She was a member of the Mount Vernon Club, the Women's .Advisory Committee of the Johns Hopkins University, the Overseers of the University of Maryland Law School and the board of trustees of Mercy Medical Center.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am. tomorrow at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles St.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Baker is survived by two sons, William Clayton Baker of Ruxton and Benjamin May Baker III of Southport, Conn.; two daughters, Susan Baker Powell of Roland Park and Julia Baker Scbnupp of Fells Point: two sisters. Burdine Clayton Johnson of Kyle, Texas, and Susan Clayton McAshan of Houston; nine grandchildren: and three great-grandchildren.
Julia Clayton Baker, whose philanthropic interests enriched Center Stage and helped to beautify the city, died Wednesday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center from complications of a stroke. She was 83.
Mrs. Baker, who lived for many years on Brightside Road in Ruxton before moving in 1996 to Brightwood Retirement Community in Lutherville, pursued a path of quiet philanthropy, wishing not to call attention to herself.
Her contributions to the City allowed for the restoration and installation of plantings in front of Johns Hopkins Hospital and farther north on Broadway. Her contributions also made landscaping possible in front of the Lyric Theater.
"Douglas Tawney, who was director of the city's Department of Recreation and Parks, came to me and said an anonymous donor wants to give $150,000 for plantings, and I asked him who it was," said William Donald Schaefer, who was then mayor and now is state comptroller.
"He said she insisted on remaining anonymous but finally gave me her name. I gave her a call, and she finally agreed to come to City Hall under the conditions that she not be announced and could use a side door and elevator. We gave her a plaque and a silver dish, but she never allowed me to mention her name under any circumstance. And when we finished, she went back down alone. I thought that was simply amazing.
"She never wanted to be prominent, What a great and lovely, lovely lady."
Peter W. Culman, recently retired as Center Stage's managing director, called Mrs. Baker "a long-time subscriber, patron and giver" to the downtown theater.
He recalled in detail his first lunch meeting with Mrs. Baker, who came dressed in a brown herringbone skirt, white blouse and a long tweed jacket. She wore a jade bracelet and kid gloves and carried a pocketbook.
"They were classic clothes, very traditional and becoming." Mr. Culman said. 'Coco Chanel would've approved.
"She said, 'You probably want some money for Center Stage, and I said, yes. We never really discussed Center Stage, and I said we would at our second luncheon. Two days later, a check arrived. She was a spontaneous giver, and we were the recipients of many surprises from this grand lady. However, she insisted that they remain anonymous."
Mr. Culman added; "She was a very graceful woman with a gentle but firm voice. She was a woman who had a conscience and did something about it."
Mrs. Baker's other interests included restoration of the former Enoch Pratt Free Library branch in Charles Village.
Born Julia Clayton in Houston, she was the daughter of William Lockhart Clayton, founder of Anderson Clayton Co. cotton brokers. Her father served as undersecretary of state for economic affairs during the Truman administration.
She was a 1934 graduate of the Spence School in NewYork and received her bachelor's degree in 1938 from Vassar College. She was second in her class at the University of Virginia, where she earned her law degree in 1944, and received a master's degree in law from Georgetown University in 1976.
She was married in l939 to Dr. Benjamin May Baker Jr., a prominent Baltimore internist. Dr. Baker, now retired, survives her.
A tax attorney, Mrs. Baker practiced law at the firm of Covington & Burling in Washington from 1944 to 1946.
In his memoirs, Joel Barlow, a retired partner at Covington & Burling, wrote: "I have no doubt that had she been interested in staying at C & B after the war, she would almost certainly have been C & B's first woman partner."
In Baltimore, Mrs. Baker practiced law as a member of the Legal Aid Bureau from 1948 to 1958.
She was a volunteer at the Pickersgill retirement community in Towson, enjoyed playing golf at the Elkridge Club and was an avid bridge player.
She was a member of the Mount Vernon Club, the Women's .Advisory Committee of the Johns Hopkins University, the Overseers of the University of Maryland Law School and the board of trustees of Mercy Medical Center.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am. tomorrow at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles St.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Baker is survived by two sons, William Clayton Baker of Ruxton and Benjamin May Baker III of Southport, Conn.; two daughters, Susan Baker Powell of Roland Park and Julia Baker Scbnupp of Fells Point: two sisters. Burdine Clayton Johnson of Kyle, Texas, and Susan Clayton McAshan of Houston; nine grandchildren: and three great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Baker, who lived for many years on Brightside Road in Ruxton before moving in 1996 to Brightwood Retirement Community in Lutherville, pursued a path of quiet philanthropy, wishing not to call attention to herself.
Her contributions to the City allowed for the restoration and installation of plantings in front of Johns Hopkins Hospital and farther north on Broadway. Her contributions also made landscaping possible in front of the Lyric Theater.
"Douglas Tawney, who was director of the city's Department of Recreation and Parks, came to me and said an anonymous donor wants to give $150,000 for plantings, and I asked him who it was," said William Donald Schaefer, who was then mayor and now is state comptroller.
"He said she insisted on remaining anonymous but finally gave me her name. I gave her a call, and she finally agreed to come to City Hall under the conditions that she not be announced and could use a side door and elevator. We gave her a plaque and a silver dish, but she never allowed me to mention her name under any circumstance. And when we finished, she went back down alone. I thought that was simply amazing.
"She never wanted to be prominent, What a great and lovely, lovely lady."
Peter W. Culman, recently retired as Center Stage's managing director, called Mrs. Baker "a long-time subscriber, patron and giver" to the downtown theater.
He recalled in detail his first lunch meeting with Mrs. Baker, who came dressed in a brown herringbone skirt, white blouse and a long tweed jacket. She wore a jade bracelet and kid gloves and carried a pocketbook.
"They were classic clothes, very traditional and becoming." Mr. Culman said. 'Coco Chanel would've approved.
"She said, 'You probably want some money for Center Stage, and I said, yes. We never really discussed Center Stage, and I said we would at our second luncheon. Two days later, a check arrived. She was a spontaneous giver, and we were the recipients of many surprises from this grand lady. However, she insisted that they remain anonymous."
Mr. Culman added; "She was a very graceful woman with a gentle but firm voice. She was a woman who had a conscience and did something about it."
Mrs. Baker's other interests included restoration of the former Enoch Pratt Free Library branch in Charles Village.
Born Julia Clayton in Houston, she was the daughter of William Lockhart Clayton, founder of Anderson Clayton Co. cotton brokers. Her father served as undersecretary of state for economic affairs during the Truman administration.
She was a 1934 graduate of the Spence School in NewYork and received her bachelor's degree in 1938 from Vassar College. She was second in her class at the University of Virginia, where she earned her law degree in 1944, and received a master's degree in law from Georgetown University in 1976.
She was married in l939 to Dr. Benjamin May Baker Jr., a prominent Baltimore internist. Dr. Baker, now retired, survives her.
A tax attorney, Mrs. Baker practiced law at the firm of Covington & Burling in Washington from 1944 to 1946.
In his memoirs, Joel Barlow, a retired partner at Covington & Burling, wrote: "I have no doubt that had she been interested in staying at C & B after the war, she would almost certainly have been C & B's first woman partner."
In Baltimore, Mrs. Baker practiced law as a member of the Legal Aid Bureau from 1948 to 1958.
She was a volunteer at the Pickersgill retirement community in Towson, enjoyed playing golf at the Elkridge Club and was an avid bridge player.
She was a member of the Mount Vernon Club, the Women's .Advisory Committee of the Johns Hopkins University, the Overseers of the University of Maryland Law School and the board of trustees of Mercy Medical Center.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am. tomorrow at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles St.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Baker is survived by two sons, William Clayton Baker of Ruxton and Benjamin May Baker III of Southport, Conn.; two daughters, Susan Baker Powell of Roland Park and Julia Baker Scbnupp of Fells Point: two sisters. Burdine Clayton Johnson of Kyle, Texas, and Susan Clayton McAshan of Houston; nine grandchildren: and three great-grandchildren.
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