Kathleen Bradley
I work at A + Academy Elementary, where Mr. Baker worked last. I wasn’t able to get to know him until the last few weeks of school when we had monitoring duty together during STAAR testing. He was a really nice person and we shared an interest in the same genre of books. I enjoyed hearing about many of his life experiences and counted him as a friend. I was really looking forward to seeing him again this school year and was saddened to hear of his passing at such a young age. He will be greatly missed. I include in this entry a poem for my friend and co-worker Mr. Baker, by James Whitcomb Riley.“He Is Not Dead” I cannot say, and I will not say That he is dead. He is just away. With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand, He has wandered into an unknown land And left us dreaming how very fair It needs must be, since he lingers there. And you—oh you, who the wildest yearn For an old-time step, and the glad return, Think of him faring on, as dear In the love of There as the love of Here. Think of him still as the same. I say, He is not dead—he is just away.” ? James Whitcomb Riley