| 1954. 10 Jan |
Dorothy Baker, (b. Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey, USA 21 December, 1898) Hand of the Cause of God, was killed in a plane crash in the Mediterranean Sea, near the island of Elba. BOAC Flight 781 departed Rome, Italy on a flight to London, England. While climbing through 27,000 feet, the plane experienced a sudden in-flight break-up and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea near the Island of Elba. All 35 passengers and crew on board were killed. Following this accident, the Comet fleet was taken from service and subjected to numerous modifications in areas believed to have been the origin of the yet-unknown failure. The fleet was returned to service in late March 1954. [BW12:670; FAA Website]
In 1921 she married Frank Baker who had two motherless children. They had a girl and a boy of their own. [FMH73]
She was the granddaughter of Ellen "Mother" Beecher who took her to see 'Abdu'l-Bahá in New York in 1912. An early teacher (unnamed), after seeing the young girl, had a vision and asked Jináb-i-Fazil for an explanation. He replied that "someday she will become on of the great teachers of the Cause" and Mother Beecher began to pray that this would be fulfilled. [FMH73]
See FMH76-77 for the story of how Doris McKay was able to help Dorothy deal with her depression in 1929.
For the Guardian's cable see BW12:670, CF161.
Shoghi Effendi had appointed her among the first contingent on the 24th of December, 1951. [MoCxxiii]
For her obituary see BW12:670–4.
See also Freeman, From Copper To Gold.
See TG229 for a short story about her and a comment from her on the Long Obligatory Prayer.
See Remembering Dorthy Baker at Bahá'í Blog.
See Bahá'í Chronicles.
See article in the Canadian Bahá'í News No 46 February 1954 p1.
Find a grave. |
Mediterranean Sea; Elba; Italy |
Dorothy Baker; Hands of the Cause; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; Births and deaths; In Memoriam; Hands of the Cause, First Contingent |
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