February 14, 1932 ~ June 16, 202593 Years Old
Eleanor Baker Obituary
Dr. Eleanor Zuckerman Baker, 93 years young, a resident of League City, Texas, passed away on Monday, June 16, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. William and Sarah Zuckerman; her beloved husband, Roger Merle Baker; brother Henry Zuckerman and wife Gloria; and son, Roger “Rusty” Baker. Ellie – Mom – Grandma Baker – Grandmamma – Nana leaves behind a legacy of love. She is survived by her husband Robert Seibold; daughters and spouses, Susan and Larry Margolis, Cindy and David Stamps, and Mary Jane and Steve Shilling, and daughter-in- law, Susan Shelly Baker. Grandma/Grandmamma is survived by grandchildren, William Margolis, Jacob Margolis, Sarah Margolis, Jacob David Stamps (Paris), Elissa Leann Gallegos (Anthony), Steven Scott Shilling (Marlayna), Jessica Wardak (Sean), Michael William Baker (Lauren), and Matthew Henry Baker. Grandma Baker/Nana is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Avrham, Moises, Aleina, Amara, Spencer, Kathryn, Garrett, and Titus Allen.
A distinguished author and retired professor from the University of Texas, Dr. Baker studied as a Fulbright scholar and received numerous writing and academic awards, including a National Endowment for the Humanities award to study at Harvard. Along with Lady Bird Johnson and Walter Cronkite, she was nominated for the Texas Writer of the Year award, and the volume “Australian Aborigines” from her book series won a citation from the United Nations as “… a unique contribution to international understanding.”
Never one to hide in the classroom, Dr. Baker has visited with headhunters in the Amazon and New Guinea, was known for taking crayons to the children at the leprosy colony in Liberia, dug for archaeological treasures in Majorca, and was always ready to start the next adventure. After retirement from the classroom, Dr. Baker embarked on a new career spending most of her time visiting exotic ports of call from Asia to Zanzibar, and sharing her knowledge with passengers as a member of the crew – she was always teaching. Ellie placed finds into the Smithsonian, British, and Peabody museums. Dr. Baker wrote short stories and played the piano (especially WWII songs) even while she was battling cancer.
A private gravesite ceremony will be held.
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