Vivian Arlene Baker

Vivian Arlene Baker (nee Midboe) of Middletown, formerly of Staten Island, died peacefully on May 3, 2018 after a courageous battle with lung cancer.

Vivian was born in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn to Albert and Margit Midboe (both deceased). Shortly thereafter, the family moved to the Westerleigh section of Staten Island, then to West Brighton, where she grew up, and finally, New Brighton.

Vivian was a graduate of Curtis High School, class of 1953. Upon graduation, she worked as a secretary on Wall Street for various financial institutions (including Dillon Reade). In 1960, she married Harold C. Baker, Jr. In 1961, she left work to start a family.

In 1961, a daughter, Vivian Elisabeth was born. The family lived briefly in Grasmere before settling in Annadale in 1962 where they lived for 21 years. In 1964, a son, Harold C. Baker III, was born. During her time living in Annadale, Vivian worked as a seasonal tax preparer for H&R Block. She was an active member of the P.S. 36 PTA and enjoyed ceramics and singing in the Messiah Lutheran Church choir. Vivian and her family also had a long connection with Beach Haven, Long Beach Island, where they vacationed and owned a home until it was destroyed in 2013 by Superstorm Sandy.

In 1983, Vivian and her family moved to Middletown, NJ. Vivian became a contract employee of then Bell Laboratories in Holmdel, where her husband had worked for many years after retiring from the Fire Department of the City of New York. She worked there until the mid-1990’s, when her husband Harold retired from Bell Labs after undergoing kidney transplant.

Vivian and Harold lived together in Middletown until November 2005, when Harold passed away. Vivian continued to live in Middletown until her death.

Vivian was beloved by her many friends and family and will be sorely missed. She was an intelligent, compassionate, wonderful lady who loved to laugh. Vivian is survived by her daughter Vivian (Lisa) and her husband Tom Calu, her son Harold and his wife Evelyn and their three children, John, Harry and June. She is also survived by her two sisters-in-law, Mildred Midboe and Liz Baker and many beloved nieces, nephews (their children and grandchildren), cousins and close friends. Vivian’s brother Albert, sister Eleanor, and brother Edward predeceased her.

Visitation will be held at John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank on Monday, May 7th, from 2-4pm and 7-9pm.

A Service will be held at King of Kings Lutheran Church, 250 Harmony Road, Middletown on Tuesday, May 8th at 10am. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends and family consider donating in Vivian’s memory to one of the following organizations:

The New Jersey Chapter of the “Make-a-Wish” Foundation (njwish.org)

The Holmdel First Aid Squad (holmdelfirstaid.org)

The New Jersey Sharing Network (njsharingnetwork.org/contribute)

The Beach Haven First Aid Squad (bhfas.com/home/supportus.html)

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.