John Early Baber

John Early Baber departed this life on Monday evening, October 22, 2001. He was at the time of his homegoing exactly 75 years old, having recently celebrated his birthday along with relatives. Born on October 8, 1926 to Maude Lillian Stewart and William Stewart in Johns Hopkins Hospital. John at the time of his birth was the largest baby ever born at the hospital. He was raised in East Baltimore on Boone Street. The eldest of three siblings, John attended Baltimore City Public Schools through the ninth grade. John wanted and would have a colorful, early life. He had a yearning to travel. While still in his teens, John joined the U.S. Navy and served with honor during World War II. After his discharge from the Navy in 1945, John entered the Merchant Marines where he worked as an Oilier. John was also highly patriotic and was a lifetime member of the American Legion. He traveled around the world, chronicling his memories and picking up bits of foreign languages and historical trivia about each country he visited. Eventually, John returned to Baltimore where he worked for many years for GI Cab Company as a cab driver and was known as “Big John”. Later he worked as a building superintendent for Rock Realty a 6 E. Read Street. In his early youth, John became a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, but later joined St. Ann’s Catholic Church as an adult. John was known to be a good storyteller and could weave a story like no one else. For young family members there was no need to read pirate stories, for John had stories to tell of his own adventures on the sea in the Merchant Marines. John had a very ecclectic taste in hobbies and interest. He was a stamp and coin collector, but also loved sports. John was affectionately called “Tor” for his skills as a baseball catcher and football player. He was also a collector of African Art, loved to prepare and eat food, was an avid reader, collector of jazz music, and became a certified locksmith. In 1975, John made medical history when he became only the third person known to have received what was then a new and highly risky surgical procedure known as an intestinal by –pass in an effort to reduce his weight. Remarkably, John survived this radical operation and throughout the years of medical hardships, he never lost his sense of humor, his capacity to be kind, or his intellectual capacity. John was a walking encyclopedia, dictionary, and history book. He loved to talk on all topics. Just ask John, he could tell you everything that you needed to know. His nieces and nephews loved to ask John to help them with their homework. With his help, they were sure to get an “A” on their assignments. Having fought the food fight, without ever a complaint, John lost his final battle when he succumbed to death at Millennium Nursing Home, where he resided the final months of his life. While John did not often speak of organized religion, he did come to know and love the Lord as his Savior. John Early Baber leaves to cherish his memory: one beloved sister Lavinia Stewart Dorsey; one brother, Perry William Stewart, Sr., a sister-in-law, Chaarlotte Stewar; three nephews, Keith Dorsey, Kevin Dorsery and Perry Stewart, Jr., eight nieces, Vanessa Stewart Thompson, Deborah Stewart Meadows, Linda Dorsey Walder, Terry Stewart Nickens, Laverne Stewart Taylor, Vickie Stewart, Cynthia Dorsey, and Taneesha Stewart; two very close cousins, Doris Pryor Hudson and Marlene Pryor Gorham, a very special friend whom he thought of like a son, Vance Meadows, Sr., and host of other grand nieces, grand nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

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John Early Baber

October 8, 1926 - October 22, 2001