Geoff's chess phase was followed by an intense Inuit phase. Maybe others can chime in on some of the earlier phases? (I'm just glad the Carol phase is ongoing...!)

Chess

Shortly after Ivy was born, Geoff went through his chess phase. We have dozens of chess books and chess boards, a chess clock, travel chess and digital chess to prove it. When Ivy learns how to play, Geoff will even have a chess partner.

Geoff the Jokester

Geoff was the first person to make Ivy laugh. She laughed again and again, we laughed again and again. We got up at night again and again, we cried again and again, she screamed, we screamed. And then she laughed again and again. Hmm. Still much of the same.

Child Labor

As a father, Geoff was quick to find the loopholes in Vermont's lax child labor laws.

Being married to that special someone has allowed Geoff to come into his own.

From Gregg and Sam

Favorite Thing...
Whether he's conversing with adults, playing with children, or rolling around with a dog, he gives everyone the same amount of attention and consideration, has the same interest in their happiness, expresses the same continuous smile, and tells the same dumb jokes.

Most memorable moment...
Summer of '97 with Geoff, Carol, and Ted (my Bernese Mountain Dog puppy). Traveling through Colorado together for a month or so. Especially...parking our vehicles on a cliff in the San Miguel Mountain range, loading our packs for waht seemed like a week's worth of travels, and setting out for a 3 or 4 hour hike over a snow packed mounatin down into Telluride for a Fourth of July celebration. Enjoying tracking through several feet of snow, heading down a wonderful bowl, on a wonderful day, with wonderful friends.

Then...10 hours later...still hiking, bitching about all the snow, how ridiculously steep this bowl actually is, how a few squiggly lines on a map can actually be so far, and how annoying each of us can actually be...arriving at top of a lip where we can finally see Telluride, only to realize we have to cross an ice-melt river, with swollen bare feet, dragging a leashed exhausted 90 lb 8 month-old puppy who was afraid of water, just to get to the trail that continues for another few hours down a never ending switchback to the bottom, just in time to watch some fireworks (who cares...) and fall asleep. Then, spending the next day, crashed out in 95+ degree heat, taking care of said puppy (picking him up every few hours so he could pee because he could not walk - "I broke my dog") as I wait for Geoff and Carol to hike/hitchhike back to our vehicles and return. I have never worn a backpack since.

Happpy 40th Birthday Geoff

From Cindy

There's a great guy by the name of Geoff
Who lives near a town known as Jeff'

He's a tree-hugger, root-plucker, wow pizza-baker

and

around dawn his fine rooster'll wake 'yer.

"We're going on a big adventure, and we don't know what's in store..."

I like Geoff for all of the reasons we've all stated. Plus, I think he's cute.

Geoff not only does most of the cooking, he grows most of our food. Without Geoff I would still be subsisting on english muffin pizza, canned soup, and dinner-in-a-box.

Geoff keeps us all smiling.

When I first met Geoff he was often compared to Jim Carrey.

While others think Geoff lives in Vermont for the outdoor life, those in the know realize few states were hospitable to his lifestyle back then.

Many people think Geoff loves to cook. Few realize he simply is fascinated by sharp objects.

Despite the distractions of young children, I always knew that Geoff would maintain his interest in literature.

One of the things I admire about Geoff is his ability to remain calm and serious while others freak out.

I remember the first time I met Geoff.

He arrived at my door in Memphis driving an old pickup truck with my daughter and a hound dog named Hound Dog in the back.

My wife and I had a “discussion” about accommodations. I lost. Hound Dog had to sleep in the garage and Geoff got to come in the house.

Not long after this encounter, Hound Dog ran away.

My daughter is still with Geoff.

Too bad.

That was a really nice dog.

A great brother…

Geoff is for sure a great brother. Aside from the sitting on my head of course. He taught me to ski, a skill which i value very much and love to do more then anything, and introduced me to the wintery wonderland of vermont. He also has taken me to canada a few times and i love it. But he is a great brother for other reasons besides his location and where he takes me. He is considerate, caring, full of great humor, and very generously is giving me his old trench coats, which i am sure that you have already shipped. so in conclusion, he is a wonderful brother.

Geoff and his favorite girls in Geoff's favorite room of the house, doing Geoff's favorite thing; he's a Baker in every sense of the word.

Geoff the crafty, hands-on, fun-loving, action-packed, super patient stay-at-home travelling circus; clowns and death-defying stunts included (but none of the unhealthy circus food, thank you very much!).

I love to remember Geoff as a new Daddy. That's almost certainly the happiest I've ever seen him. The way he looked right after Ivy was born, when he first held her I will cherish my whole life. He held Ivy most of her first night, and left me to sleep off the labor. Of course, from there we've had just a long string of wonderful firsts, including taking Ivy to her Mama's big city!

Littlefield has a Little to say

A funniest time with Geoff: cross country skiing at Smugg’s- our trek uphill- me in the chariot and geoff in this amazing home rig chariot. The uphill was fairly easy for geoff; Ivy in a sled behind him, and sage on his back in a pack. The down hill was more than amusing and comical (for me…but I am sure not to him)- he had no static lines to keep Ivy from getting tangled in his skiis. I cannot remember if there were any major falls- but I know there were some very close calls.

Lisadora Shares Her Geoff Memoirs

I have 3 FUNNY BIG MEMORIES of this man.

1. MEETING GEOFF: Carol and I were back stage ready to sing with the McGill University Women's Choir. I was wearing my ugly black plazo pants and an over-sized white blouse and Carol was wearing, most likely, the same. I remember a bushman amidst all the women in the choir. And Carol introduced me to the man who had been whisking her away on weekends. This mystery man who played classical guitar and loved to cook had stolen her heart...

2. Smoking with Geoff: Geoff and I enjoyed siting on the fire escape of various Montreal apartments smoking cigars. He taught me that I SHOULD NOT inhale. We let the smoke circle in rings above our heads into the night sky as the snow fell and enjoyed quiet conversation.

3. Watching Geoff do a dance in his underwear on our Vancouver apartment floor: Carol and Geoff vacationed to Vancouver before Ivy was born. Actually, come to think of it, exactly nine months before Ivy was born. Probably even EXACTLY the number of days it takes to grow a baby. Hmmm.. Anyway, Sarah and I both came home really late from work, and there was Geoff in his striped boxers in our living room, relaxing with Carol who was wearing her pajamas. We sat around chatting, and Geoff seemed in a particularly god mood that afternoon... (???) I fact, he seemed REALLY happy about something... He was in such a good mood and was so excited to see us (or so excited about something) that he began to do a floor dance on top of his sleeping bag. He thrusted his hips to the right and the left. He wiggled his hips and smiled and he did his goofy pelvic dance. He had had a really fun, productive afternoon in our apartment. And nine months later, Carol and Geoff's first daughter was born.

Love from Lisa/Sarah

Geoff...the Big Brother

What's my first memory of Geoff? Well, that's obviously hard to say for sure, but it probably wasn't the time when Mom came into our room and he was standing on me. I was only a few weeks/months old, but I've heard that story a few times and it feels as if it's my memory now, too. My earliest real memory that I think I can remember was he and I camping outside our house in Winterville, GA and then it started raining...really hard. But I remember that before Dad came and rescued us, we were in it - together. Us versus the elements, and Geoff (if memory serves) didn't want to give up and go inside, but I'm pretty sure that I did. That hasn't changed much, as Geoff continues to defy all logic and sense and live in Vermont, year round...still battling the elements after all these years! He always has been the better outdoorsman, a true 'country mouse' to my 'city mouse.'
Sure, we went through the years as kids when we wrestled and fought constantly as all brothers do, or when he tried (unsuccessfully) to sell me his toys - but I also remember the hours and hours of playing with GI Joe and Star Wars toys, building amazing forts and legos. Here's a funny side story - this summer I saw "GI Joe" in the theater (don't ask) and it brought me back to those early days in our childhood, and I told Erin that I loved that movie not because it was a great movie, but because it was exactly the movie that Geoff and I would have written as 9 and 11 year old little boys making their own GI Joe adventures. It was just plain fun, and reminded me of those early "GO JOE!" years.

As Geoff and I have gotten older, we've grown much closer than we ever were before. Having children has brought us even closer together as we talk about our own 'styles' for raising our kids. And not surprisingly, we're pretty darn similar. We both still have that inner kid inside of us that allows us to have fun with our children, and to just be silly. And Geoff's silliness is one of the things that makes him such a great father to Sage and Ivy and a wonderful uncle to Finn. He's also incredibly sweet, caring, nurturing and kind, as evidenced by his first visit to see Finn after he was born. (These are the pictures I've posted) He selflessly came down and made Erin and I wonderful food and spent quality time with his new little nephew. We hope that he can do that same thing for "Dumpling" in May, or at least just come and cook Calzones for us! We'll never forget those days when he came down and filled our stomachs with delicious food and our hearts with love for how selfless he was to do all of this for us!
































It's hard to believe that Geoff is now turning 40, it does seem like just yesterday that we were teenagers sharing that old orange Chevette...but even more fun than playing with action figures and camping in our backyard has been watching Geoff become more than just a great brother. Watching him become a great teacher, a great gardener, a great builder, a great farmer, a great son, and most importantly a great husband and great father gives me something to strive for, and I know that he'll always be there to help me do just that.


Thanks, 'bro.
Love,
Andy

Andy's Big Brother, Geoff

2. My favorite thing about Geoff is: his Moroccan chicken recipe. Only kidding. It's his sense of adventure, his ability to make any situation fun, and his abundant kindness.
   
3. The funniest thing I ever saw Geoff do was: clean the chicken poop off of my pants' hem after a visit to a local farm. We had just visited the pigs and the cows and I brought back a little souvenir. It was funny in that Geoff just scooped up the pants and said, I'll take care of this! No problem! Like it was getting me a glass of water or something.
   
4. The happiest I ever saw Geoff was: anytime he is with his girls: Carol, Ivy, and Sage.
   
5. My most memorable moment with Geoff was: building a giant bonfire at his house and singing and shaking instruments around it. oh my, so much fun!!!
   
6. List three nouns or verbs that describe Geoff: thoughtful, intelligent, calzone.
   
7. If you were going to give Geoff a nickname, what would it be (and maybe why?). Cheff Geoff. because once he made me a wonderful breakfast and managed to take care of Finnie so that I could eat it. Chefs are renowned multitaskers and that would be Geoff!
   
8. Draw a picture of Geoff.: will do during our next Balderdash tournement
   
9. If Geoff were an inanimate object, what would he be, and why? a ski or a snowshoe or something to juggle or a sippy cup or piece of chicken wire or a silly hat or a chess piece
10. happy birthday, Geoff! to the kindest Giant in town!

love you, Erin

Geoff the Brother-in-Law

My earliest memory of Geoff is his first visit to Memphis (1996?). I was 17 years old, and I thought he was cool because he had long hair, drank his juice out of a mason jar instead of a glass, and he let me take Hounddog out on a run.

All these years later, the things that make Geoff cool are his willingness to question what others take as gospel, his patience and skill as a teacher, his seriously adorable children, his pizza, and (most importantly) the way he loves my sister.

Geoff at age 18 years; new horizons

Well, there comes a time when Dad starts to be less appealing than other options. Here he is, aged 18, fixin’ to depart for the Senior Prom with a more appealing option. One of the greatest things in being Geoff’s dad is to have seen him grow through many stages as he makes his way happily in the world.

Geoff at age 16 years; a new sister

 

Early 1986, Geoff aged 16. This is the photo we used for Hannah’s birth announcement. It was entitled “Hannah and Her Brothers”. Sara wrote it as a faux movie review and Geoff (before the days of umpteen fonts on a computer) did all the lettering with his calligraphy kit. Geoff and Andy sure loved that baby and I think that is where some of their fantastic parenting skills were formed. They used to fight over whose turn it was to change her diaper.

Geoff at 15

Geoffrey's school picture in October, 1985.
The Preppy years.

Geoffrey and Andrew

Geoff and his brother were about 4 and 2, respectively.

Haircuts and braces anyone!?

Charles' and Paloma's Wedding

Geoff with Mom and brother at Uncle Pete's waiting for the festivities to begin.

Geoff at age 13 years; wicked stepmother

A wicked stepmother is always tough for a kid to swallow. But Geoff handled it with good humor and aplomb. Andy was rebellious early and cool later. Geoff was cool at first and did his stepmom rebellion later. Geoff played the violin at our wedding, Andy played the grouch! Sara certainly loved the boys like her own and played an important role in their upbringing.

On the Hill Street porch

Christmas 1986.

A stylish Geoff Baker. And Grandpa Ostle in his porkpie hat.

Tres chic, messieurs!

Twistin' the night away....

.....at Daphne and Jay's wedding!

Geoff age 12 years; fishin’ buddy

I am not sure when this picture was taken, but Geoff appears to be about 12. We did a lot of fishing together when he was growing up. I believe this picture was taken on the beach near Destin, Florida where we all went when Sara and I were courtin’. Geoff was also a superb crabber and here on the gulf coast he would hunt ghost crabs at night with a flashlight and net. Ghost crabs are like blue crabs which have evolved a white color to hide on the white sands of the gulf coast. Some of my fondest memories of Geoff were of crabbing at St. Simons Island, Georgia. Geoff, Andy, and I would set out for the fishing pier early in the morning to fish and trap crabs. We usually got a good mess of crabs by lunch time and would bring them back to the rented cottage for lunch. Some summers there would be Ostles there as well as Bakers and we would all feast on crab. After half an hour or so, everybody but Geoff and I would get tired of picking crabs and quit. But the two of us would carry on, sometimes for an hour or more, eating those sweet crabs.

Soulful Geoff

I love this photo of Geoff holding his new baby sister. Both Geoff and Andy were exceptional big brothers. I learned then that teenage boys get a bad rap; the boys were tender, caring and generous. Geoff was a soulful teenager, interested in a wide range of subjects, from music to Russian history. Dinner times were entertaining, with Geoff offering nuggets of new learning: "Today in Science" we called them. One day he looked at us in disgust as Todd and I were discussing some logistics of housekeeping and said, "You never talk about Ideas!" I remember feeling dismayed. How can the weary middle-aged ever explain themselves to impassioned youth? I'm happy that as he enters middle-age, Geoff retains all the passion and curiosity he has always had, despite having outgrown his Sherlock Holmes cloak!

Geoff at age 10 years; grandparents

 

Christmas dinner, 1979, making Geoff almost ten. Here we have the whole Ostle clan (no Curtis yet) celebrating the day. Geoff loved his Grandma and Grandpa Ostle who moved down to Athens when Grandpa suffered a stroke. Many happy memories with the Ostles.

 

Speaking of grandparents, Geoff was really special to his Grandpa Baker. He was my dad’s first grandchild. When Geoff was born, Dad and Irene (Grandma Baker) were on a Caribbean cruise and we notified them by cablegram. One bittersweet thing in my life is that my mother, who died quite young, never knew any of her grandchildren. Oh, how she longed for grandchildren and how she would have adored them all. Still, Dad married a wonderful woman some years later and she was Grandma Baker to my kids, just as loving as any “blood” grandmother ever was.

Geoff at age 5; budding musician

Here is Geoff at about age five when he began learning violin. He studied the Suzuki method where a parent is required to be involved, sit in on every lesson, and be general coach and teacher during home practice. It was wonderful for me because I had never had any music lessons of any kind but loved music—this was my chance to learn. So, I did one of the smartest parenting things I have ever done: I asked Geoff if he would please teach me how to play the violin. So, under his tutelage, I worked through the first Suzuki book. My grandfather’s violin, intended for Geoff, was requisitioned by me since it was way too large for him. I never gave it back but don’t feel too guilty since classical guitar has become his preferred instrument. He gets it when I’m gone; that’ll teach him to teach me violin!

Geoff at age 4; Winterville, GA

Even at age 4, Geoff was a climber! In 1974 we moved to Athens, GA where we bought a nice little ranch house. Inspired by Eliot Wigginton’s Firefox books, which we used to try to get into the spirit of the South, the boys and I built a log cabin. I just noticed that Geoff’s Great Grandpa Nordstrom, my mother’s father, is in the lower right corner of this photo. He and my grandmother were on their way to Florida. On this trip he brought us the violin which he played when he was a boy (see next entry) which I still play.

Geoff at age 3; New Jersey

When Geoff was three we were living in New Brunswick, NJ where I had a postdoc at Rutgers. We had a great old house at 25 Hardenberg St., right in the middle of the Hungarian ghetto—lots of good goulash and paprikash; not to mention Tony’s (“no charge for the extra grease”) Subs. Living downstairs from us was a Greek graduate student at Rutgers; a couple of her recipes are still made by me. This picture was taken at a nursery school he attended. Brother Andy was born in NJ.

Geoff at age two years

 

I believe that these pictures were taken in the spring of 1972; Geoff would have been about two at the time. We had gone to Washington, DC so that I could attend the American Physical Society spring meeting. We decided to take a little vacation after the meeting and drove down to Monticello (the first picture) and then to Williamsburg (second picture). The second picture, one of my favorites, has been on my bedroom bureau for Geoff’s entire life (since two).