Q: Describe the fraternity as you remember it in your time frame
A: One of the smaller houses, but that was part of the attraction
Q: What are your fondest memories of being a Delta Chi at Michigan?
A: The brotherhood and friendships that we formed. Bridge and Euchre under the stairs. Singing songs around the table in the basement. The campus cop (Swoverland?) raiding the Sigma Nu house across the street while were well into those songs and, I presume, a few beers. And we didn’t even know it happened until the next day!
Q: Do you remember any incidents / funny stories from your DX days?
A: I managed to take a semester off after my sophomore year. I guess I was asked to do that by the university. ‘Bad Dean’ said “join the Army.” ‘Good Dean’ a few months later said “write and tell us you will work harder.” That meant a December 1964 graduation and a fifth football season. Having become more studious after that semester on the assembly line, my “plan” was to not get football tickets and spend my weekends studying for the third actuarial exam. My good ‘ole DX buddies prevailed on me to at least get the tickets since they were 50 yard line seats. After four years of lousy football, Michigan beat both MSU and Ohio State, lost only one game to Purdue (Bob Griese), went to the Rose Bowl and beat Oregon State. I didn’t even take the actuarial exam.
Q: Did you live in the house?
A: Two years, then I commuted because I lived in Taylor, Michigan and I got the message from ‘Bad Dean’.
Q: What about your membership in Delta Chi makes you the most proud?
A: The men I was associated with, a genuinely fine bunch that I am happy to be around today.
Q: Do you stay in touch with any of your Delta Chi brothers? Who?
A: Jim Richhart ’64, probably because we both became actuaries and our paths have crossed over the years. Howard Gandelot ’64 and I reconnected over the new house project. Frank Morrey ’64, of course, is in touch from time to time.
Dave Siglin ’64, because we visited the Ark many times in the 80’s and 90’s. One time Dave contacted me to help him promote a show by Fiona Ritchie (Thistle and Shamrock on NPR.) We got the word out to the Scottish community and Rackham Auditorium nearly sold out. I negotiated an on-stage moment for us to give Fiona an award for promoting Celtic music. The best part of the evening was Dave’s shocked reaction when I walked in wearing my Baird tartan kilt. I think he said, “You didn’t wear that at the fraternity house.”
Q: What was your undergraduate degree? What was the first job you took after college?
A: BA in Actuarial Science. I worked at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company in Philadelphia, Pa.
Q: Did you go to graduate school?
A: No. Society of Actuaries exams were more important. I became a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries in 1970 and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries in 1974. In 1976, after the passage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA,) I was certified as an Enrolled Actuary.
Q: Who have you worked for?
A: Actuarial Student, Penn Mutual, 1965-1966 and Associate Actuary, 1969-1971. Alexander Hamilton Life Insurance Company, VP and Chief Actuary. Switched to pension consulting with Towers, Perrin, Forster and Crosby 1975-1988, Consultant and then Principal. Chicago and Detroit offices. Buck Consultants, 1988-2002, Principal and Retirement Practice Leader, Detroit and Denver offices.
Q: Where have you lived?
A: Philadelphia, Pa; Newport, RI; Athens, GA; Groton, CT; Charleston, SC; Cherry Hills, NJ; West Bloomfield, MI; Naperville, IL; Bloomfield Hills, MI; Denver, CO; Beaver Creek, CO and Cordillera, CO.
Q: Were you in the military? What service? What rank?
A: Yes. 1966-1969 Navy, Ensign/ LTGC, Lieutenant (after I got off active duty) What did you do? Supply Officer, USS Nathanael Greene SSBN 636, Blue Crew. Two 70-day strategic deterrent patrols on a Polaris missile submarine. Qualified in Submarines and entitled to wear the gold officer dolphins.
Q: Where were you stationed?
A: Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI; Supply Corps School in Athens, GA; Officers Submarine School in Groton, CT and homeport in Charleston, SC.
Q: Tell us about your family and interests
A: I have three children; two boys and one girl. Larry is a Michigan graduate, lives in Ann Arbor, works in the securities business and also has three children, two boys and one girl. One graduate of Eastern Michigan, one graduate of Michigan State and, as of this April, my oldest granddaughter made it three generations to graduate from Michigan. Go Blue! Matt is an Eastern Michigan graduate, works as a registered nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Ann Arbor and has two children— a boy and a girl ages eight and four. Trish is an Alma College graduate, software engineer and lives in Denver, CO. My wife, Karen, is the same person I dated during my junior and senior years. We married on Jan 2, 1965, the day after Michigan’s Rose Bowl victory—a great way to start to 1965!
Q: Hobbies you have?
A: Ski, snowshoe, hike, golf, lead single malt whisky tastings and model railroading. I’m building a replica of the Quincy and Torch Lake Railroad built for Quincy Mining Company in Hancock Michigan.
In the 1990’s I got involved in my Scottish heritage and joined the Saint Andrew’s Society of Detroit, a Scottish benevolent society, which also sponsors Burns suppers and Highland Games (the oldest in North America dating back to 1849.) I served two terms as President and remain active in Highland games attendance in Colorado. The priest I serve with is also of Scottish background, so we have an annual Kirkin’ of the Tartan service. Yes, we wear the kilt and the ladies seem to think we look good.
Q: Volunteer work?
A: After retiring in 2002, we joined the Episcopal Church in the Vail valley. In 2005, I got involved in short term mission trips to help rebuild New Orleans after Katrina. The first trip turned into two trips a year lasting until 2010. In 2007, I began to feel a call that led me to enter the process of becoming an ordained vocational deacon in the Episcopal Church. In November 2010, I was ordained a Deacon. I have been assigned since then by the Bishop of Colorado as Parish Deacon for The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Vail, CO. Vocational deacons are not paid and remain deacons for the entire time they serve.
Q: Any illnesses you might like to mention or share?
A: Thankfully nothing to share. I’ve been blessed thus far.
Q: What would you say are your life’s biggest successes?
A: After marriage and family, two segments; the first being my work as an independent actuary for major corporation pension plans including Ford Motor Company, Massey Ferguson, Burroughs/Sperry, Marshall Field and Detroit Edison. I provided sound independent actuarial advice, which helped keep all of their pension plans adequately funded—at least while I was their actuary. Please note which auto company did not need a bailout and did not dump their pension plans on the PBGC. Years after my time, but I like to think I had a hand in it.
The second segment is my decision to follow God’s call into ministry. The voice of the deacon is to call people into the world to serve others. Or, as my priest says, “The Priest’s role is to comfort the afflicted and the Deacon’s role is to afflict the comforted.” I take that seriously and I hope I have afflicted and called many to serve others.
Q: What advice would you give the younger Delta Chi members?
A: Get a degree that makes you employable, get involved in a faith community, give back to others and put down the phone or tablet and interact face-to-face with the people in your life.
I have been following the progress of the newest Navy carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford. President Ford had a house in Beaver Creek and attended the Episcopal Church when in Colorado. I met him on several occasions. The ship’s motto was based on people’s assessment of the man— “integrity at the helm.”
Q: What do you want people to remember about you 50 years from now?
A: The big rocks; Christian, husband, father, grandfather, integrity and professionalism.
Q: Would you like to mention your business for anyone that might be searching for your product, expertise, or just information to help a Brother out with.
A: Anyone wanting to be afflicted to help others are welcome to call. I have lots of ideas.
If any brothers would like to contact Brother Baird, they can do so by email at [email protected] or by phone at (970) 390-5954.
