2015 -- S 0732

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LC002161

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF REVEREND FATHER MATTHEW

JEREMY BAKER

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Lombardi, Gallo, Miller, and Lynch

     Date Introduced: March 19, 2015

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, With heavy hearts, we express our condolences to the Baker family on the

tragic passing of Father Matthew Jeremy Baker, who passed away at the age of thirty-seven from

an automobile accident on March 1, 2015. He was the loving husband of L. Katherine Baker and

the devoted father of Isaac, Elias, George, Eleftheria, Cyril, and Matthew, Jr.; and

     WHEREAS, Father Baker was born in Warwick, Rhode Island, son of Evelyn Baker and

the late Howard Baker. Educated in the Cranston public schools, Father Baker, in preparation for

the Priesthood, attended St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, where

he earned a Master of Divinity degree, and the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he earned a Master of Arts degree. Since 2010, he was

enrolled as a doctoral student at Fordham University, studying systemic theology; and

     WHEREAS, Father Baker was ordained to the diaconate on January 17, 2015, by his

Grace, Bishop Andonios, Chancellor of the Greek Archdiocese of America, at the chapel of St.

Michael's Home in Yonkers, New York. Shortly thereafter, he received the grace of priestly

ordination on January 19, 2015, from His Eminence, Metropolitan Methodios of Boston at the

Annunciation Parish in Cranston, Rhode Island. Father Baker had been serving at various

parishes throughout New England over the past year. He had been recently assigned to serve at

the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Norwich, Connecticut; and

     WHEREAS, Father Baker was a brilliant young scholar who had written numerous

highly regarded and well-received essays and articles on a variety of theological and

philosophical topics. More importantly, he was an energetic and passionate man who cared

deeply about the spiritual and physical well-being of others. His untimely passing creates a void

that will be impossible to fill. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends and colleagues;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby expresses its condolences to the Baker family on the passing of Father Matthew Jeremy

Baker; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to L. Katherine Baker.

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