Obituaries

Lois J. Baker, a longtime member of University Communications, died Dec. 1 in Harris Hill Nursing Facility from complications from dementia. She was 77.

Baker joined the UB News Bureau — now part of the division known as University Communications — in 1991 as an editor covering the people, research activities, and initiatives of many of the UB health sciences schools: the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, the School of Nursing, the School of Dental Medicine and the School of Public Health and Health Professions.

She was a former member of the board of the American Medical Writers Association and served as its New York representative.

While at UB, she earned a master’s degree in medical anthropology.

She retired from the university in 2010.

Baker was raised on a dairy farm in Everett, Pa., and earned a degree in journalism and foods and nutrition from Penn State University. She worked as a newspaper reporter at the Chautauqua Daily, the Post-Journal in Jamestown, N.Y., and the Daily Press in Newport News, Va., where she won several awards from the Virginia Press Association.

After moving to Buffalo, she served as communications director at Canisius College. She also wrote numerous freelance articles and food reviews for The Buffalo News.

Baker was an accomplished cook and an avid runner in her younger years, frequently winning age-group awards at local races.

She was a past president of the Parkside Community Association and led efforts to renovate the children’s playground in Delaware Park. She also was a volunteer gardener at the Darwin Martin House.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.