Central NY’s victim of EEE was healthy, avid outdoorsman, long-time volunteer firefighter

Sullivan, N.Y. – At 79 years old, George Caswell Baker Jr. was in great shape for his age, his family said.

He was completing half-marathons into his 70s and could still run a few miles. He even started training to try to run in the Utica Boilermaker next summer. An avid outdoorsman, he was also gearing up for the hunting season.

Living in Central New York, he was aware of the risks of mosquito-borne viruses like eastern equine encephalitis. His son, George Baker III, said he always warned him and his siblings to wear long sleeves and use bug spray. There’s even a can of bug repellent by the door in his Baker Jr’s house according to his son.

George Baker Jr., of Sullivan, died on Saturday after contracting EEE earlier this month, according to his family.

He’s the first person in Central New York to die of the mosquito-borne illness in 10 years. Only seven people have died from the virus in New York state since 2000 according to the State Department of Health.

EEE is a rare and serious virus. About one-third of people who get the virus die from the disease and most survivors suffer brain damage. It has no vaccine or cure.

The virus is transmitted from birds to mosquitoes, which can then infect horses and humans through bites.

Baker, an Army veteran, was a selfless “anchor” in the community, his family and friends said Tuesday. He was a volunteer firefighter for decades and active in community events, coaching youth wrestling and volunteering for youth cross-country and track for years.

Baker spent over 50 years volunteering for the Chittenango Fire Department. He served as the department chaplain for the last 30 years.

“He had an old school sense of duty,” said Erick Haas, the president of the fire department. “He worked hard trying to continue these traditions, encouraging younger members to step up and do things they may not have seen as relevant.”

Even just a few days before Baker Jr. began to really feel the effects of the virus, he delivered a powerful speech at the fire department’s 9/11 memorial, his son said.

The long-time volunteer would often represent the fire department at community events, Haas said. He and his wife Donna for years ran the pizza stand at the fire department’s annual field days.

On the scene of a fire, he would help with organization and safety issues, the president said.

“He was at every meeting, and he was coming with us to emergencies right up until shortly before his passing,” Haas said.

Even though Baker stopped going into the fires themselves a few years ago, he still felt obligated to contribute on scene as much as he could, said his son.

Baker was a teacher who was always interested in hearing someone’s story or offering them advice, according to his son and Haas.

He served in the Army in the 60s where he was a radio repairman and communication specialist, his son said. He was largely stationed in Germany.

After serving, Baker started repairing computers and eventually ran his own computer business.

Baker is survived by three children and six grandsons.

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Zimmer Funeral Home in Chittenango, according to his obituary. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church Chittenango.