Sheldon S. Baker

Sheldon S. Baker, a distinguished attorney, civic leader, respected public servant, and the patriarch of the Baker family passed away peacefully at Chester County Hospital in West Chester, Pennsylvania on February 14, 2026, at the age of 89. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. 

Sheldon was born on December 4, 1936, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Joseph L. and Thelma June (Alford) Baker. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Louise Balonick. When Sheldon was seven years old, the family moved from Minnesota and settled in Glendale, California, where Sheldon attended Glendale Unified School District schools and graduated from Herbert Hoover High School. The city of Glendale would remain central to his life and career.

From a young age, Sheldon was always learning, leading, building, and helping. As a teenager, he joined the Order of DeMolay, where he honed leadership skills and built friendships that lasted decades. Sheldon met his high school sweetheart and the love of his life at a DeMolay dance. A simple act of kindness - assisting Marilyn Jeanette Netschert, a member of Job’s Daughters, in finding her seat - began their lifelong love. Also from a young age, Sheldon was active in the Boy Scouts of America, earning the rank of Eagle Scout and the Order of the Arrow. He remained active in Scouting throughout his life, earning the respect of fellow leaders for his decades of service and mentorship. In his adult years with scouting, he was the recipient of the Silver Beaver award Boy Scouts American (1972), Distinguished Eagle award (1980), the Silver Antelope western region Boy Scouts American (1993), and three Silver Palm awards given for additional accomplishments beyond the Eagle Scout rank. 

Sheldon attended and completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He earned a full-ride scholarship and graduated summa cum laude in 1958. He was a proud member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity and formed friendships that endured for a lifetime. While he was away at Rutgers, Sheldon and Marilyn wrote to each other every day. They married in August 1958 in Pasadena, California, beginning a partnership rooted in love, hard work, and shared purpose.

After their marriage, Sheldon and Marilyn moved to Palo Alto while Sheldon attended Stanford Law School. Their first son, Curt, was born in 1959. Sheldon earned his Juris Doctor in 1961 (Order of the Coif) and was admitted to the California Bar in 1962, beginning a legal career that would span more than sixty years. Law was not just a profession for Sheldon - it was a way to serve, to solve problems, and to help people and businesses move forward.

Sheldon’s lifelong commitment to law, education, and community helped shape public life in Glendale, California, and beyond. As a partner at Halstead, Baker, and Olson, and later Baker, Olson, LeCroy & Danielian in Glendale, Sheldon built a broad practice focused on business law, estate planning, real property, and tax law, providing trusted counsel to individuals, families, and enterprises throughout Southern California. He worked tirelessly, often long hours, not out of obligation but out of commitment to his clients, his profession, and his family. Early in his career, he was named one of the Five Outstanding Young Men of California by the California Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1964, a reflection of the drive and integrity that defined him. A prolific author and thought leader, Sheldon contributed to legal scholarship, including works on tax planning such as Post Mortem Tax Planning (1966) and California Inheritance Tax Practice (1973). His writings reflected a deep commitment to clarity and fairness in the law and continue to remain influential in the field.  

Sheldon’s deep-rooted work ethic and drive to help others carried into a lifetime of civic service and public leadership. He served sixteen years on the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education, including terms as president of the board. He held multiple roles on the Glendale Community College District Board of Education, where he also served as president. His commitment to education extended beyond Glendale, as he served as president of both the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association and the California School Boards Association, advocating for strong public schools and meaningful community partnerships.

In municipal government, Sheldon was an elected member of the Glendale City Council and served as Mayor of Glendale from 1996 to 1997, where he worked to promote sound governance, community development, and public service. He also chaired the Glendale City Housing Authority and the Glendale Redevelopment Agency, contributed to statewide municipal affairs through the California League of Cities, served on the board of Glendale Memorial Hospital, and was active with both the Salvation Army and Kiwanis Club of Glendale. Wherever there was work to be done for the community, Sheldon found a way to step up and offer his time, insight, and wisdom in service to others.

Despite his many roles, Sheldon never lost sight of what mattered most. He and Marilyn raised three children, Curtis Duane, Jon Gregory, and Melissa Janel. Sheldon and Marilyn were deeply intentional about building a close, loving family grounded in shared values. Together, they believed strongly in instilling curiosity, empathy, and an understanding of the world and the people in it. To bring those values to life, Sheldon and Marilyn became actively involved in the American Field Service program (AFS), opening their home to three exchange students for a year each: Jean Delahousse from France, Sugiharto Supiyanto from Indonesia, and Kayoko Ishii from Japan.  Even today, they are considered part of the Baker family. Sheldon also encouraged his own children to explore the world beyond their doorstep, actively supporting opportunities to travel and spend time abroad through AFS and university study-abroad programs. He worked tirelessly to provide for his family and to make those experiences possible. Sheldon was the family’s anchor, teacher, and example, and his lessons about perseverance, humor, service, and doing the right thing even when it is hard will be carried forward by those he loved.

Sheldon also treasured time spent at the family’s home in Big Bear Lake, California, where he enjoyed fishing, boating, reading, playing cards, and being with family and friends.   He loved going on walks with his dogs and would frequently interact with neighbors he saw along the way.

In 2016 Sheldon and Marilyn moved to the Belcaro community in Valencia, California.  There they met many wonderful new friends who quickly embraced them in the community.  Sheldon enjoyed playing bocce ball, cribbage, and participating in activities with the Men’s Club.

Sheldon was a passionate fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He loved to root them on whether it was listening on the radio, watching them on television or attending games with his season tickets. Sheldon also loved to travel and shared many cruises and adventures around the world with Marilyn and close companions.

In recent years, his great-grandchildren brought him special joy and laughter, affectionately calling him “Great Sheldon.” Their time together playing games, laughing, and simply being present meant everything to him.

Sheldon bravely faced Alzheimer’s disease, and received special care in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where he was surrounded by family. Though his passing leaves a profound absence, his family takes comfort in knowing that he can now rest, free from the burden of disease, and at peace.

Sheldon was a man of remarkable intensity and exacting standards. He could be fierce, demanding, and relentless in everything he did, whether at work, in public service, or guiding his family. And yet, alongside that drive, he was deeply kind, tender, and generous - a man who loved wholeheartedly, shared freely, and devoted his life to both family and community. He never stopped, never gave up, and somehow always found a way to keep his sense of humor, even in the toughest of times.

Throughout his life, Sheldon was known for his sharp intellect, his integrity, and his generosity of spirit. He balanced a rigorous professional life with devotion to his family and friends.

Sheldon is survived by his three children and their spouses (Curt and Debbie Baker, Jon and Denise Baker, and Melissa and Michael O’Gara), his six grandchildren (Joe Baker and wife Heather, Chris Baker, Dusty Baker, Cody Baker, Michael O’Gara, and Katie O’Gara), and his three great-grandchildren (Myles Baker, Teddy Baker, and Henry Baker).

A memorial service celebrating Sheldon’s life will be announced in the coming weeks.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the Alzheimer's Association or Blood Cancer United, which is a charity that Sheldon generously supported.  Donation instructions appear below.

For donations to the Alzheimer’s Association

For online giving, please visit www.alz.org, then click on the “Give in Honor and Memory” button in the top right. The site will guide you from there.

For check donations, please mail to:

Alzheimer's Association, Attn: Donor Services, 225 N. Michigan Ave, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601

(Please include a note indicating the donation is in honor/memory of Sheldon Baker, and include your name and contact information.)

For donations to Blood Cancer United

For online giving, please visit https://bloodcancerunited.org/

On the "dedicate my donation" field on the website, please include: “In memory of Sheldon Baker”

For check donations, please mail to:

Blood Cancer United, PO Box 22324, New York, NY 10087

On the notes/memo line of the check write: “In memory of Sheldon Baker”