BAKER DONALD JOSEPH (MONK) Age 75, passed, surrounded by family, March 19, 2014, in Shadyside Hospital, of a short but mighty fight with cancer. Born July 2, 1938, in Charleroi, PA to the late Joseph and Lola (Elefante) Baker. Survived by wife, Nancy (Macek) Baker; daughter, Natalie (Baker) Dedo; son-in-law, Jeffrey Dedo; and three beloved grandchildren, Jordan, Mekayla and Meghan Dedo; and a beloved nephew, Matt Macek; brother-in-law, Michael Macek, Minneapolis, MN; three sisters-in-law, Mary Egan- Sioux, IA, Suzanne Gonsiorosky and husband, Richard, of Minneapolis, MN, and Dorothy Svoboda of Jackson, MN. Don began his life in Charleroi, PA where he played football under Coach Rab Curie with friends, such as Carl Witmyer, Joe Falbo, Myron Pottios, and many others. He later went on to play Division 1 Football for North Carolina State University. Don came back to the Mon-Valley earning a degree in Earth Science Education from California University of Pennsylvania. He taught and coached for many years at both New Kensington and Clairton High School, where he helped many young men obtain football scholarships. Don left teaching and coaching to go into sales/marketing with IBM in the late 1960s, where he had a very successful career until he retired as an executive vice president. Don enjoyed retirement to its fullest. He and his wife, Nancy, enjoyed many years traveling between Charleroi, PA and their condo in Sunset Beach, NC where he enjoyed golfing and fishing. Don will be dearly missed by family and friends. A special thank you goes out to Dr. James Luketich, Dr. Katie Nasson, Dr. David O'Dell, and Dr. Neil Christie, as their care and compassion for Don was unprecedented. It is rare to find great doctors, but to find great doctors that are angels here on earth is almost impossible, but that is what you will find in these doctors. A special thank you also goes out to all of the nurses that cared for Don at the Shadyside UPMC Med-Surgical ICU. The care and compassion these nurses showed to Don and his family was incredible. May God always watch over you and be at your side. Friends will be received Saturday, March 22, 2014, 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday, March 23, 2014, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the SCHROCK - HOGAN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 226 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 24, 2014, at 10 a.m. in Mary, Mother of the Church, 7th and Washington Ave., Charleroi. Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb
