John D. Baker (retired)
Manager
John Baker, the son of Baker Commercial Properties co-founder David Baker, was the Co-Managing Partner of Baker Commercial Properties from 1995 to his retirement in 2021. Prior to being managing partner, John joined what was then “Baker and Baker” in 1979. John was born and raised in Columbia, and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Following in his father’s footsteps, John is an active philanthropist, including serving as past Chairman separate times of the National Campaign Cabinet for the State of Israel bonds, Richland County Public Library, Central Palmetto Division of the March of Dimes, Forest Lake Educational Foundation, Richland School District Two Foundation, and South Carolina Council on Economic Education.
He also founded the Step Into Reading program locally and served on numerous other boards. He was honored with the Order of the Palmetto from South Carolina Governor James Hodges in 2002 and has been honored numerous times by the State of Israel for his work with Israel Bonds, along with reading and library programs in addition to his work with various local charities. He also remained active for years with the Tree of Life Synagogue and Beth Shalom Synagogue in Columbia. He is a longtime member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, which displays an art piece of Hall of Famer Phil Neikro, which John donated to the museum. In 1990, he married the former Marcie Stern, and they have a daughter, Gabrielle Baker, who lives in New York. Regards,