Livingston (Liv) Baker

Livingston (Liv) Baker, a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and uncle passed away peacefully after struggling for many years with various illnesses at age 84. His loving wife, Ruth, of 59 years was by his side. Liv was a kind and generous spirit who was thrown into a caretaking role as a young boy and continued that role throughout his life. He was always willing to lend a hand to anyone who he knew needed it and gave generously back to those who helped him. He would spend many an hour talking with those he loved and cared about both listening and offering advice when needed. He was a deep thinker and loved to have long discussions about anything from current events to sports and the many memories he had over the course of his lifetime. Liv is survived by his wife and best friend, Ruth; his beloved daughter, Genevieve and grandson Leo whom he adored; brother Robert (Diane), who was his rock and who he deeply loved; brother-in-law Robert (Gail); 10 nieces and nephews who he cherished and their children as well. Liv grew up in Teaneck, NJ with his mother Mildred and adored Grandmother Frances (known as Boey) and Grandfather Norman. He received his undergraduate degree from Yale University, his JD from Michigan Law School and his graduate degree, LLM, from New York University. While serving in the US Army in the 1960s, he met his wife Ruth, the love of his life, and they married a year later. After law school Liv and Ruth moved to New York City where he worked for the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Human Rights Division of the United Nations and as a professor at Capitol Law School (OH) and Seton Hall University Law School (NJ) from which he retired after more than 30 years. He taught many courses including Property, European Union Law, Constitutional Law and his favorite, International Law. He was involved in creating and participating in many international programs at SHU and ran an exchange program with the University of Business and Economics in Beijing, China. As part of the program, he was invited to teach International Trade first in 1983, for many months in 1984 while on sabbatical with his family and then periodically for the next 20 years when he returned to teach short courses at UIBE. It was during that year-long sabbatical in 1984, when the family lived in Australia and China, that inspired both Liv and Ruth to continue to travel. They have many wonderful memories of friends in many countries and when Liv was unable to be as mobile, they went on riverboat cruises that they thoroughly enjoyed. Liv had a keen intellect and lived a full life of the mind. He loved reading and the opera, the symphony and all kinds of sports. He was an avid athlete — he played football, baseball and basketball in high school and college and then picked up handball in his twenties in which he excelled, and it became a lifelong passion. When he could no longer play such physically high impact games he turned to golf, which he and Ruth enjoyed together. Liv was an ardent believer in the power of community which he exercised both at home and at work. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and taught Sunday School in both the Wyoming Presbyterian Church (NJ) and Central Brick Presbyterian Church (NJ). He was also devoted to his students and was a tireless mentor to many; he and Ruth frequently hosted events for both his colleagues and students. One of Liv’s favorite places to be was the abandoned 1780 stone house that he and Ruth bought in 1969 in Roxbury, NY instead of the “cabin” they set out to purchase as a country home to escape from the city. The house needed a lot of TLC (including electricity and water!). Despite both the physical and financial hurdles they encountered, the house was accepted onto the National Trust for Historic Places in 1994. There are so many, many wonderful memories there with family, friends and, of course, the dogs. His ability to see the diamond beyond the rough exterior, that others had abandoned, is truly inspirational. Liv was a kind, thoughtful, generous, upstanding and wise man. He will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to one of the following charitable organizations in his name: Inner City Handball Association (https://www.icha.org) All Faiths Food Bank of Sarasota (https://allfaithsfoodbank.org) Human Rights First (https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/) An online memorial service will be held at a later time.

Tributes

Livingston (Liv) Baker

February 10, 2021