George Baker

George Baker (b. 1941), Architect, Musician, Father, Partner, and Beloved Host, Remembered for a Life Rich in Design and Joy.

George Baker, a visionary architect and natural-born entertainer whose creativity left a lasting mark on both buildings and hearts throughout the Rochester region, passed away peacefully at the age of 84.

Born with a gift for both design and music, George earned his degree in architecture from Kent State University in 1965. His career brought him to Upstate New York, where he became known for breathing new life into historic structures, reimagining old barns like his own, train stations, and homes into vibrant, deeply personal spaces. His philosophy was simple but profound: “I listen. Then I draw.” He treasures his converted 1913 barn he and his partner call home. George's work combined warmth, ingenuity, and an intuitive sense of his clients’ needs he designed hundreds of homes over the course of his career. 

But architecture was only one of his many talents. George was a natural musician, teaching himself to play the trumpet and piano. He played everything from big band swing to small jazz ensembles, but he will be best remembered for his many joyful years performing with the Rochester-based Dixieland group, The Bourbon Street Parade. He was its last surviving member—the end of an era.

A devoted and loving partner, George met Annabelle Francia-Kiss in high school in Cleveland, stealing a kiss that would eventually lead to more than 40 years of shared life, laughter, and adventure. Their love and bond was creative, playful, and unwavering.

George is survived by his sister, Carolyn Baker Moline; his daughters, Heather Baker Horgan and Brittany-Victoria Strother Baker; his step-daughter, Kristin Welch, and his six grandchildren: Sofi, Niko, Quinton, William, George, and John, and two nieces, Corinne White and Lauralee Blanchard.

He was a warm and generous host, always ready to share a meal, a drink, and a story, often punctuated with his unmistakable Louis Armstrong impression and the golden tones of his trumpet. George was well loved and will be profoundly missed. For those who knew him, it’s easy to imagine him now, with trumpet in hand, serenading the heavens with a gravelly-voiced “What a Wonderful World.”

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