I got to know Stan a little better at our 50th reunion and onward. He was a gentle, stalwart, sweet human being. He organized and held our last memorial gathering around the reflecting pond with wonderful compassion and love. His passing is so sad and my heart goes out to his husband and partner, Peter Harrigan, and his friends and admirers.
Here is what I emailed to the Swarthmore Bulletin:
I really enjoyed my connection with Stan Baker at our ’68 50th Class Reunion in 2018. He was a wonderful, thoughtful and caring man.
He and his husband Peter Harrigan were one of three couples in Vermont who led the way to Vermont being the first state to honor civll unions for gay and lesbian couples that led to the success of gay marriage being approved and accepted in the US. Stan was key to this development. It was Stan’s name on the 1999 case - Baker vs Vermont.
Nancy Bennett ’68 posted these articles (along with a moving tribute to Stan) on the Swarthmore ’68 webpage; these articles were written right after Stan’s death on June 23:
I suggest an article in the Bulletin that traces the history of the life issue that Stan fought for - from civil unions through gay marriage - that puts Stan at the center of the narrative.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/stan-baker-dies-first-civil-unions-9c9a3bfd?st=TSVM6w&reflink=article_email_share
Nancy Bennett
I got to know Stan a little better at our 50th reunion and onward. He was a gentle, stalwart, sweet human being. He organized and held our last memorial gathering around the reflecting pond with wonderful compassion and love. His passing is so sad and my heart goes out to his husband and partner, Peter Harrigan, and his friends and admirers.
Stephen C. Morse
Here is what I emailed to the Swarthmore Bulletin:
I really enjoyed my connection with Stan Baker at our ’68 50th Class Reunion in 2018. He was a wonderful, thoughtful and caring man.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/stan-baker-dies-first-civil-unions-9c9a3bfd?st=TSVM6w&reflink=article_email_share
https://www.wcax.com/2025/06/24/stan-baker-trailblazer-vermonts-fight-civil-unions-dies-79/
https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/06/24/rip-the-ven-j-stannard-baker-deacon-and-pioneer-for-lgbtq-rights-dies-at-79/
I suggest an article in the Bulletin that traces the history of the life issue that Stan fought for - from civil unions through gay marriage - that puts Stan at the center of the narrative.