To honor Mary we are working with the SPCA  to fund permanent improvements to the cat adoption rooms at their Titusville facility (these are the same rooms from which she adopted Baxter and her other cats.)  We know that she would have loved the idea that her friends, family, and colleagues are joining together to help more pets find a good home.   We are also working with the SPCA to have some sort of recognition on display to honor Mary.  This is something we think her two-legged friends would enjoy seeing.  

Mary Ann Baker passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 after battling illness over the course of the last few years.  She was 53 years old.   

If you knew Mary she touched your life in some way.  She was vibrant, full of positive energy, had a huge heart, and cared deeply for her family and friends.

Professionally, Mary was a hard worker, smart, and very successful in whatever she put her mind to.  She would not hesitate to work a 16 hour day if needed,  had the ability to forge an instant connection with people, and was a superstar when it came to organizing complex projects and events.  Some of her career highlights include: directing a state-wide minority business program, building national NASA Education programs from the ground up, coordinating the rollover of Space Shuttle Atlantis, and writing grant proposals which landed millions of dollars for important causes.  Recently, she had embarked on her own entrepreneurial effort in which she did market research, identified a product, got the product produced in mass overseas, and began selling it on Amazon (you can still buy the product here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085DH8MMH and profits continue to go to her family).  This was just another example of how Mary could accomplish whatever she put her mind to.

(Mary inside NASA's Convoy Commander vehicle coordinating the video streaming of the NASA Swarmathon competition)


(Mary working with her NASA colleagues at the NASA Swarmathon hosted at the Kennedy Space Center)

(Mary coordinating an event to recruit students into a STEM teaching program at Florida Institute of Technology)

Personally,  Mary was someone who you could always depend on.  No favor request was too big for her and she would pick up the phone at anytime of the day or night for anyone in need.   If you were hurting, she was hurting, and her sole focus became figuring out ways to help you and lift you up.  If you were an underdog, loner, or even just a little awkward in a group, Mary had your back.  She was a leader who would go out of her way to make sure you felt included, valued, and important.  Her laugh was infectious and she was someone that people gravitated to. When Mary entered a room the whole mood would pick up because she radiated a positive energy.  If you spent time with her she likely told you on more than one occasion, something along the lines of:  "we need to laugh, enjoy ourselves, and just be happy".

(Mary with her husband Jamie)

Due to COVID, there are no services planned at this time.  One of Mary's passions were animals and her cats in particular.  She was a strong supporter of the SPCA of Brevard and made regular donations to the organization.  Mary adopted multiple cats from the SPCA and she was so proud when Baxter, her most recently adopted cat from the SPCA, won the cover of the 2018 Best Pets Calendar produced by the Brevard Humane Society.  

(This was a special Facebook post Mary made to celebrate Baxter's second birthday and his winning the calendar cover)

To honor Mary we are working with the SPCA  to fund permanent improvements to the cat adoption rooms at their Titusville facility (these are the same rooms from which she adopted Baxter and her other cats.)  We know that she would have loved the idea that her friends, family, and colleagues are joining together to help more pets find a good home.   We are also working with the SPCA to have some sort of recognition on display to honor Mary.  This is something we think her two-legged friends would enjoy seeing.