Mary Louise (Molly) Baer, 93

June 14, 2017

Mary Louise (Molly) Baer died at Moravian Manor Retirement Home in Lititz, PA on June 14th. She was 93 years old. Molly was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Rev. Dr. Victor Baer, who died in 2013. She is survived by four nephews — Stephen, Jeremy, and Chapin Koch, and Phil Nash — and by a niece, Rebecca McKay. She is also survived by her dear friend Alicia Miller, who provided constant love and care for her during her declining years.
Molly Baer was the daughter of Roscoe and Maria Louise Koch. Born in Washington, D.C. she moved to Pottsville, PA at the age of three. In Pottsville Molly attended a Quaker school, where she was exposed to the importance and value of volunteer service while working in a settlement house near the school. During World War II Molly attending the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY and later attended Vassar College. At Vassar Molly laid the groundwork for her later work with children by majoring in Child Studies. Following her graduation from Vassar in 1945, she returned to Pottsville, where she held a series of teaching and administrative positions in local schools. She had also taught at Agnes Irwin School in Wynnewood and The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, where she served as the director of the preschool. In 1951 Molly became the Director of the Madison Avenue Church Day School in New York City, where she met her future husband, Victor Baer, who was one of the four ministers serving this large Presbyterian Church. Molly and Victor were married in June, 1956.
In 1959 the Baers moved to Ossining New York, where Rev. Baer had been called to the First Presbyterian Church. In Ossining, Molly organized a library and a nursery school. She also become heavily involved in many village organizations, holding board positions in the Ossining Women’s Club, the Ossining Children’s Center, the Community Action Board, and the Ossining Historical Society.
The Baers moved back to New York City in 1971 when Victor was called to join the staff of the Brick Church Presbyterian Church. Here, Molly again threw herself into a variety of volunteer activities, organizing a Church Library, acting as a substitute teacher at the Day School, teaching Bible School, and serving on the board of the Women’s Association. While living in New York, she became very active in The New York Vassar Club, where she served as Vice President and Chair of the Program Committee.
After seven years in New York, the Baers once again moved, this time to the Dutch Country of southeastern Pennsylvania, where Victor was called to be the minister of the historic Donegal Presbyterian Church just outside of Mount Joy. In Mount Joy, Molly organized an endowment for the church and was able to get the church buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. During these years, the Baers took great pleasure hosting a series of exchange students from around the world, including Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark and Egypt.
Throughout their lives, the Baers pursued many opportunities to travel and see the world. Victor’s work as a visiting minister took the couple to many far-away places — from the coal country of rural Kentucky to the Green Mountains of Vermont to the Colorado Rockies to Yorkshire, England and the South Island of New Zealand. Later, in their retirement, they continued to travel to many exotic and fascinating places including Polynesia, East Asia, and many destinations throughout the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
Molly Baer had many interests, and she energetically pursued them throughout her life. She had a passion for gardening, for classical music (especially opera), for travel, reading, and theater. She played the piano and had a beautiful singing voice. She was very philanthropic and gave generously to many charities throughout her life. She was particularly committed to her alma mater, Vassar College, and was very supportive of organizations that provided aid to children born with cleft palates. Most of all Molly loved interacting and working with young people. She was a kind, generous, and gentle soul, and she will be missed by all who knew her.
A memorial service for Molly will be held at Steinman Hall, Moravian Manor, 300 W. Lemon Street, Lititz on June 22nd at 3:00. A reception will be held at the same location following the service. Private interment will take place in the Landisville Mennonite Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Molly’s memory may be given to Moravian Manor, 300 W. Lemon St., Lititz, PA 17543 or to the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic, 223 N. Lime St., Lancaster, PA 17602.