Obituary of Mavis Baird (1925 – 2021) – San Mateo, CA
She passed away before death in 2006 by the love of her life John N. Baird, Jr. who was a fourth generation San Franciscan. They were married on July 8, 1950 in San Francisco. They raised their five children, Susan (Mark), Katherine (Kenny), Elizabeth (Wayne), Victoria (Fred), David (Cathy) in Hillsborough. Mavis had ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Mavis and John were avid 49er fans. John started watching the 49ers when they were playing at Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park. They both continued to support the ‘9er’s when they moved to Candlestick. The family continues the tradition of being avid 49ers fans when the team moved to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. There is a brick with their name on it that was placed at the stadium. Mavis continued to attend the games and the hatchback into her 80s with her children and grandchildren in her iconic 49er gold jacket.
Mavis was a woman with a curious and lively mind with many interests and a strong competitive spirit. She was an avid bridge player. She played doubles bridge at Burlingame Bridge Center until she was 80. Mavis was a talented timekeeper and knitter. She gave several of her beautiful “eyelash” scarves to family and friends. She enjoyed traveling the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, national parks and Mexico with her family.
In her early years, when her children were small, she and her best friend Connie would take them skiing while their husbands worked. One of their favorite vacations was driving an RV to the Grand Canyon where they drove the mules to the bottom of the canyon. Mavis was always up for adventure and had such a zest for life. But throughout her travels her favorite place has been Tahoe.
Mavis first visited Tahoe when she was little and stayed at Camp Richardson with her parents. Mavis and John shared an affinity for Tahoe. One of Mavis and John’s first dates was a ski lesson in Squaw Valley. They taught their children to ski at the Powder Bowl Ski Area in the 1950s. The family enjoyed staying at the now defunct Deer Park Lodge, which now houses the River Ranch Restaurant. Tahoe continues to be a beloved vacation destination for the whole family.
Mavis was a woman ahead of her time with a curious mind and an independent mind. She took courses to perfect her computer skills. She loved watching the planes take off from SFO with her dear friend Flo Biscay. She loved hummingbirds, flying kites and watching the clouds with her grandchildren. Fun and free-spirited, Mavis always enjoyed being the life of a party. She was a little ahead of the game as she drove in her car with an oversized teddy bear strapped to the back seat.
Mavis lived the last year of her life at Silverado Memory Care, where she was known for her sense of humor, quick wit, and playful personality. The staff were incredibly nice to her and admired her independence.
There was a private family reunion at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo where Mavis was buried with her husband. If you would like to donate to a charity in her honor, please select a charity of your choice that you think best reflects Mavis.
Published by the San Mateo Daily Newspaper on December 18, 2021.
