Norman D. Baker, Jr., 87, died on December 26, 2025, in Vero Beach, Florida. No matter the moniker — Denny to family and friends, Norman to coworkers and colleagues, or Moose to five grandsons — he will be deeply missed. Norman grew up in Providence, Rhode Island and was a graduate of the Moses Brown School, received a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and earned an MBA from Columbia University.

Norman and his wife of 63 years, Ann (Russum), raised their two sons in Providence and later moved to Saunderstown, RI. After retirement, they made their home in Vero Beach, FL and traveled extensively.

Norman spent his professional career overseeing investments for the insurance company FM in Johnston, RI. He also held numerous roles leading the Horace A. and S. Ella Kimball Foundation, reflecting his long-standing commitment to philanthropy. He proudly served for 20 years as a Major in the Rhode Island Air National Guard. Norman was deeply involved in organizations serving children and families, including St. Mary’s Home for Children, Meeting Street School, Fox Point/East Side Little League Baseball, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vero Beach and The United Way. He served on various investment committees and was a Commodore of the Saunderstown Yacht Club.

A lifelong lover of sports and the outdoors, Norman enjoyed squash, tennis, skiing, biking, golf, sailing, and hiking. Early family summers were spent in the mountains of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, and those were followed by bigger peaks and technical climbs — Machu Picchu, The Milford Track, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Rainier. A highlight was summiting Mt. Mera (21,000 feet) in Nepal with his sons.

A close second to playing and competing himself, was watching his sons and grandchildren play and compete. No ice hockey game was too early or lacrosse field too far for Norman to take up his post to cheer. As technology caught up with his appetite for following his grandsons’ pursuits, Norman mastered live-streaming, live-scoring and live-leaderboards.

He was a fierce backgammon and cribbage player (just ask his grandsons) and loved playing social and duplicate bridge with his wife. He enjoyed following the markets, completing Sudokus and was a voracious reader of history, biography and literature — both highbrow and lowbrow. He especially loved a good spy thriller.

Friends and family will miss his keen intellect and easy smile. Norman’s quiet demeanor made his hearty laugh that much more enjoyable. He relished the simple pleasures of a Rhode Island summer day — bodysurfing the waves, lobster with potato chips, black raspberry ice cream and cursing the Red Sox for their “undisciplined hitters.”

Besides his wife, he is survived by his two sons, William Baker (Meg Filoon) of Charlotte, NC, and Samuel Baker (Molly) of Wayne, PA; and by his five grandsons, Reed, Nate, Otis, Samuel Hatch (Satch), and Charlie. He is also survived by his brother, George Baker of Naples, FL, and his sister, Harriet (Gale) Schultz of Mattapoisett, MA.

A small celebration of Norman’s life will be held in 2026 in Rhode Island for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The United Way or to a library of the donor’s choice.