| Kirk Baird |
The Phonograph-Herald | May 13, 2026
Kirk Baird passed away peacefully on February 20, 2026, in Lebanon, New Hampshire, after a brief illness.
Born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania on April 11, 1944, to the late Leonard and Jeanne Baird, Kirk graduated from Shadyside Academy, where he was recruited by the Pittsburgh Pirates during his junior year to join their minor league organization. On his father’s advice, he chose instead to complete high school.
He went on to graduate from Yale University in 1966 and served briefly in the United States Marines.
Kirk is survived by his wife, Sandra (nee Spilger) of New Haven, Connecticut; his children, Len Baird of Woodstock, Vermont, and Jennifer Baird Hamilton (Chris Hamilton) Hartford, Vermont; and his grandchildren, Tyler of New York City, Kyle of Hartford, Vermont, and Caroline of Canton, New York; step grandchild, Sofia Rojas of Orange, Connecticut; stepchildren, Kate Sosnoff of Orange, Connecticut, and Ben Sosnoff (Devon Robbie) of Portland, Maine; his sister, Linda Campbell of Chelsea, Michigan; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. He was also predeceased by his infant brother, John David; parents-in-law, George and Helen Spilger, Palmer; sisters-in-law, Gladys Patton (and husband Elmer Patton) and Donna Elliott; nephew, Doug Patton; and niece, Janice Hanchera.
Kirk began his professional career at IBM and went on to a distinguished fifty year career in banking, finance, and real estate. Deeply committed to community service, Kirk served as president of the YMCA of Greater New Haven; treasurer and board of trustees member at First & Summerfield United Methodist Church, and at the time of his passing, a devoted member of Dixwell Avenue United Church of Christ, where he served as a deacon and on the finance board. He cherished the friendships he made over the years in these organizations.
A lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Kirk was his grandchildren’s biggest fan at Hartford, Vermont high school football, baseball, ice hockey and girls’ field hockey and lacrosse games; Bates College football games; and St.
Lawrence University women’s field hockey and lacrosse games and attending Caroline’s and Sofia’s musical and theatrical performances.
His passion for live music— rock and roll, blues, and country—took him to over 200 concerts.
Besides the concerts, he and Sandra enjoyed some epic college football games, including University of Nebraska at Notre Dame in September 2000. He enjoyed greatly his visits to Palmer, Dannebrog, St. Paul, Fullerton, and Grand Island with Sandra’s family and friends. He will be deeply missed at holidays, birthdays, and especially the everyday moments and phone calls.
A celebration of life service will be held on May 23rd at 1:00 p.m. at Dixwell Avenue United Church of Christ, 217 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Palmer Volunteer Fire Department, the Dixwell Avenue UCC Missions or Building Fund, or the Dartmouth Cancer Center. Live Stream or recorded service information will be available at www. rickerfuneralhome.com.