Douglas “Dougie” Baird, 71, formerly of Georgetown and Swampscott, Mass. and summer resident of Bremen Long Island, passed away Sept. 14 surrounded by his wife, two sons and daughter-in-law. Born on Nov. 7, 1945, he was the son of Walter and Mary Davis Baird and grew up in Lexington, Mass.
Douglas worked in the non-profit world of early education and child care on both a local and national level. He was instrumental in creating the blueprints for both the Mass Providers’ Council and the Mass Department of Children and Families (DCF). He became the first President/CEO of the Provider’s Council and later, the first Deputy Commissioner of DSS/DCF. He then began his 27-year career as President/CEO of Associated Early Care and Education, New England’s oldest early education and care agency established in 1878. From 1980, Doug was also the President/CEO of Baird Associates, a consulting firm providing IT support to mostly non-profit organizations.
He was passionate about his family, career, and sailing the coast of Maine. Doug and Margaret spent the first 22 summers of their married life sailing the coast of Maine before purchasing property in Vin’s Cove on Bremen Long Island.
He leaves his wife of 48 years, Margaret; sons, Ethan and wife Robin, and Eli; canine sidekicks, Zeke and Casco; siblings, Brinna and husband Frank Sands of Vermont and Bremen Long Island, Anne Baird and husband Steve Campbell of New Hampshire and Bremen Long Island, and Davis and wife Deanna Leamon of Worcester, Mass. He also leaves a large and loving extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins as well as a network of friends and colleagues.
His passionate connections to family, career, and Maine will live on as part of his legend and legacy. A Celebration of Life will be held from 1-3 p.m., Sun., Oct. 15 at Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport, Mass. Relatives, friends and colleagues are welcome.
