Obituary
Stephen Arthur Baisden, age 81, passed away on August 24, 2024, at Cates House in Ocala, FL after a brief illness.
Steve was born on September 23, 1942, in Pinehurst, North Carolina. He was the son of Arthur Baisden and Mary Ann (Couk) Baisden. Before moving to Ocala in 2016, Steve lived in Scituate, Masschusetts for 42 years.
Steve is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Carol (Malcolm) Baisden, as well as his brother- and sister-in law, William and Nancy Salvaggio of Brewster, Massachusetts; his niece Mallory Reza Salvaggio and her husband Brendan Reza of Austin, Texas; and his nephew Kyle Salvaggio of Boston, Massachusetts. He is also survived by a cousin, Colonel James Baisden of Alexandria, Virginia as well as other relatives in Virginia, Alabama and North Carolina.
Because Steve’s father was a career army man, the family moved often during Steve’s childhood.
He attended Divine Word Seminary in Girard, Pennsylvania for his freshman through junior year in high school, an experience which he looked back on very fondly and credited with setting his life on a better course. He graduated from Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington D.C.
After high school, Steve joined the U.S. Navy and served from 1961-1963 as a computer operator on the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain. Upon being honorably discharged, he decided to stay in Boston because of the educational opportunities there. He worked his way through Boston College evening school, completing both a B.A. and an M.A. in Mathematics.
He taught in a few different high schools in the Boston area before starting his career as a mathematics teacher at Hingham High School in Massachusetts. Steve taught at HHS from 1974-2003. He loved teaching. He taught everything from basic geometry to AP calculus and cared deeply about all his students. He also taught evening courses in statistics at the University of Massachusetts – Boston.
Steve was a perfectionist, and always learned as much as possible about his many interests through thorough research and practice. Among numerous other things at which he excelled, he enjoyed sailing, British and American naval history, modelmaking, playing blues guitar, cooking and gardening. Perhaps his favorite pastime was woodworking. Steve was an incredibly talented woodworker and cabinetmaker, designing and building furniture ranging from practical custom pieces to antique reproductions.
He will be remembered for all these things, as well as many more, including his sense of humor (dark at times), his love of cats, and the many interesting and crazy stories he had to share about his life experiences.
There is no service planned. Steve was cremated and wanted to have his remains distributed in some of his favorite places.
Donations in Steve’s memory can be made to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (www.myasthenia.org) or to your favorite animal charity.
Steve was a great teacher with a great sense of humor. I remember that he had a bibliography for his calculus class that included the Eagle's hit "Take it to the Limit."
During the gas crisis, Steve and I carpooled to school with my daughter in a car seat in the front of his truck when it was his turn to drive.
During the few years that I taught in Hingham, we became great friends. Steve's woodworking abilities were incredible. He made Sarah a personalized doll cradle that she still has at age 49. He also personalized a rocking chair for John when he was born. John still has it 47 years later.
Steve slept at our house for a night or two during the Blizzard of '78. That year I left Hingham High, but still saw Steve around town in Scituate. I am so sorry to learn of his death. He was a gentleman, an intellect, a born teacher, and funny as could be. He will be missed by all who knew him.