Born: January 9, 1903
Died: February 14,1984
Ruby Baker taught mathematics at Saranac Lake High School for 41 years, from the 1930s to the '60s. She also was the drama teacher, and directed many school plays. She was active in the Methodist Church. She was a charter member of the Women's College Scholarship Club. She was a daughter of J. Andrew Baker.
She grew up at 19 Virginia Street. She lived at 51 Petrova Avenue; she also owned an island in McCauley Pond.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, November 22, 1952
H.S. Senior Thespians Shine Under Spotlight
People from all over town who have been breathlessly waiting for the great night of the senior play will spend an enjoyable and hilarious evening tonight in the high school auditorium. The senior play, "The Little Dog Laughed", a three-act comedy by Vera and Ken Tarpley, is being sponsored and presented by members of the senior class.
[…]
The whole production is under the direction of Miss Ruby Baker, mathematics teacher, and Mr. Harold Young, English 12 teacher.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, January 22, 1955 [This is from a section of the paper headed "The School Bell" written by students in the high school.]
Rouge & Robe Offers Run and Experience
The Rouge and Robe is the club to belong to if you have a yearning for the dramatic side of life. However, you don't even have to have this qualification to belong, for this club does much more than encourage young hopefuls.
By belonging to the Rouge and Robe, which is under the advisorship of Miss Ruby Baker, assisted by Miss Margaret Buckley and Mr. Albert Nadler, you get a peek at what a big job producing a play is.
This organization meets every other Tuesday. At each of these meetings a short skit or two is put on by the various home rooms. Then these skits are criticized by the members and both strong and weak qualities are pointed out. Sometimes the club is lucky enough to be addressed by an individual who is usually familiar with the stage.
Although the audience sees only the finished product, Rouge and Robe members do much more than just act. Someone must be in charge of the costume room. For every play there must be props, and makeup artists, and prompters. And of course, the director. Members are called upon to take care of these various jobs with the exception of the latter which is taken care of by our advisors.
Then of course comes the times when the "behind the scenes" workers have finished their work and the curtain parts to reveal the actors themselves. As we all know, these persons are probably in a state of clammy hands and shaky knees, which is most commonly known as stage fright. Perhaps it is the startling lights or the hundreds of eyes upon them that gives them this feeling, but gradually they begin to enjoy it. All these people have a chance each year to show their talent at the annual Rouge and Robe assembly…
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 23, 1979
At a regular meeting of Kiwassa Rebekah Lodge No. 32 held Tuesday night, Washington's Birthday was celebrated. Ruby Baker gave a talk on historical sites, which honor Washington. A card party is planned for Tuesday, Feb. 27. Refreshments were served by Marjorie LeBeau.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 14, 1984
SARANAC LAKE - Ruby M. Baker, 81, a high school mathematics teacher here for 41 years, died yesterday evening at the General Hospital of Saranac Lake.
Miss Baker was born Jan. 9, 1903, in Saranac Lake, the daughter of J. Andrew and Flora (Baker) Baker.
She graduated from Saranac Lake High School in 1921 and from Albany State University in 1925.
She then, taught Latin for two years at the Holland Patent High School, returning to Saranac Lake in 1927 and teaching at the high school until her retirement in 1968.
She was drama coach for the school's Rouge and Robe Club until 1972.
Miss Baker was a charter member of the Association of Math Teachers in New York State, a member and past president of the Saranac Lake Teachers Association, a 54-year member of the local Methodist Church and member of its United Methodist Women and Live Wire clubs.
She was also a past president and charter member of the Women's College Scholarship Club, a member of Whiteface Mountain Chapter 106, Order of the Eastern Star, and life member of the Order of the Amaranth. She was Royal Matron four times and District Deputy Grand Royal Matron five times for the latter organization.
Miss Baker was also a member of the Rebekahs and Mt. Shasta White Shrine of Glens Falls.
She enjoyed oil painting and gardening.
Five cousins, Letta Baker of Plattsburgh, James Hall of Cumberland Head, Charles Baker of Troy, Thomas Phillips of Sheldon, Vt., and Mrs. Kenneth Johnston of Rochester, survive.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., tomorrow at the Fortune Funeral Home. An Eastern Star service will be held at 7:30 p.m., tomorrow, followed by an Amaranth service.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m., Thursday at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Richard Chatterton, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Pine Ridge Cemetery in May.
