Gary Baker Passed Away

[Dailey Enterprizes]

I just got this email from ACE.

 

It is with great sadness that we pass along the news that good friend and longtime ACE member Gary Baker passed away at his home last night. He was working that evening but went home early as he was sick. While the exact circumstances are not known, emergency responders arrived, but it was apparently too late at that point.

 

Gary Baker was truly a legend among coaster enthusiasts.

 

For the past several years, Gary worked part-time at Kennywood, a job that he truly enjoyed. Many members have fond memories of him operating coasters and doing coaster trivia on the PA system, giving behind-the-scenes tours of Noah's Ark, and wearing ghoulish makeup to serve as the gatekeeper of the Haunted Ark during Phantom Fright Nights. The staff at Kennywood is in shock over this news.

 

Gary has been active in ACE since the moment he joined, serving as a regional rep or assistant regional rep for nearly all of that time. Gary also served as ACE's national events director from 1998-2004, a position that he found most rewarding. He enjoyed planning events for others to enjoy, and put his heart into it.

 

Gary touched the lives of many ACE members in Western Pennsylvania and throughout the world. He and his fun-loving style and personality will be missed by many. The events that he attended and planned have created thousands of memories that will be cherished forever.

 

Due to family circumstances, no public viewing or funeral is planned. It is expected that a memorial service to celebrate his life will be planned in the near future. ACE Western Pennsylvania will keep you posted when any such plans are finalized. More tributes to Gary will appear in future issues of The Fun Times, ACE News, and on ACEwesternPA.org. We encourage you to visit the Web sites for periodic updates and posts.

 

Thanks for the memories Gary--we'll miss you.

 

Sincerely,

 

~The Fun Team

Your ACE Western Pennsylvania Regional Reps

 

I don't know how many people at TPR knew who Gary was, but he was a terrific human being. I got to meet him a couple of times through ACE events and got to talk to him back when I was on KPConnection.

 

R.I.P. Gary

[DenDen]

WOW, I'm so sad! Gary was so awesome. When I was a teenager and joined ACE, he was the one who welcomed me aboard at my first ACE regional event. He will be missed!

[kidcoaster 2]

I ment him on several occasions he was a very nice guy. He will be missed.

[ebl]

I met Gary at the 1999 Fall Conference. Nice guy, and will be missed.

 

Eric

[Kennyweird]

Everyone at Kennywood was talking about this. Very sad, indeed.