Obituary of Dr.Marion Constance Baird

Baird, Dr.Marion Constance (McGrath) passed away at The Church Home of St. John & St. Stephen, Saint John, NB Oct. 19. Born at "Glen Grath", Bedford, N.S. in 1908, the daughter of Mary (O"Toole) McGrath and Edward (Ned) McGrath, she had a life-long love of nature, gardening, flower arranging, music and the seashore, qualities her parents nurtured in their family. A dedicated educator for over 30 years, she received her B.A. from Mount Saint Vincent College in 1928 and in 1985 a Doctorate of Humane Letters from her beloved alma mater. .Dr. Baird began her teaching career at St. Patrick's Boys School in North End Halifax , teaching later at Fort Sackville School, Bedford and Shannon Park School, Dartmouth. She was a member of The Canadian Federation of University Women for many years. Connie and John Wesley Baird, of Windsor, N.S., were married in Halifax in 1942. They resided for over 25 years in Bedford with their daughters, Jane and Deborah. A lifelong interest in art and painting took root with studies at The Nova Scotia College of Art where she received teaching diplomas. Over the years she pursued further art studies and taught. She also played the piano and studied voice, performing in early years. A strong believer in medical research, she was a founding member of the first Alzheimer's Societies in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (Saint John) and served on the national Alzheimer's board, following the death of her husband, Jack, in 1975. She has provided for research at The Maritime Brain Tissue Bank at Dalhousie University to further study this tragic disease. Connie is survived by her daughters, Jane (David) Barry and Deborah Baird, her sister, Mary Joan (William) Walsh, all of Saint John, two brothers, Frank McGrath and Harold (Helen) McGrath, Moncton, a grand-daughter, Laurie Fisher, Halifax, five grandsons, Patrick, Jonathan, Ryan and Gregor Barry, all of Toronto; Dr. Colin Barry, Ottawa, great-granddaughters Reghan and Kaelin and great grandson, William Barry, 13 nieces and nephews, many great-nieces and nephews, and more recently, great-great-nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her husband John W. (Jack) Baird and brothers, Edward McGrath and Gregory McGrath. The family has requested in lieu of flowers, donations to The McGrath-Baird Award in Gerontology at Mt. St. Vincent University, established by her in memory of her family; the Saint John Alzheimers Society or The Greater Saint John Community Foundation. Resting at Brenan's Bay View Select Community Funeral Home, 1461 Manawagonish Rd. Saint John West (506)634-7425, with visiting from 2-4 and 7-9pm Monday Oct. 20 and funeral held at St. Rose Church, Milford Rd., 10am Tuesday, Oct. 21 with interment at a later date in Brookside Cemetery, Bedford, NS.