The Rev. Cornelis “Neil” Johannes Bakker

The Rev. Cornelis “Neil” Johannes Bakker, parish minister, world traveler, WW II veteran, lover of sports cars and opera, and a talented photographer and stained glass artist, died on August 10, 2014 at the age of 97.

Cornelis Johannes Bakker was born in Amsterdam on May 29, 1917 to Hendrik Bakker and Dina Bakker, but emigrated to the U.S. at age eight with his parents. He served in the US Army as a Tank Commander from 1941 to 1946 and continued with the Army Reserves after the war, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He went on to earn a B.A. from George Washington University in 1949 and a M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School in 1960.

Mr. Bakker was ordained to the ministry in 1963 by the First Unitarian Society of Gardner, MA. He served as a Protestant chaplain to the Gardner State Hospital from 1963 to 1977, and concurrently, minister to the First Unitarian Society of Gardner, MA from 1963 to 1979. He then served as minister to the First Universalist Church of Providence, RI from 1979 to his retirement in 1990. He was named Minister Emeritus of the First Unitarian Society of Gardner in 1984, and Minister Emeritus of the First Unitarian Church of Providence in 1990.

Neil Bakker was committed to both the larger UU movement and the local communities in which he ministered. He served as president and vice president of the Central Massachusetts District of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), and served on the district’s board, evaluation committee, and appraisal committee. He also served as member and president of the North Atlantic Interdistrict Council of the UUA; the nominating committee and board of the Ballou-Channing District of the UUA; and the MA Council of Churches. He held membership with the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association; co-founded the Gardner-Athol Area Mental Health Association, and actively served the American Red Cross, United Way of America, the Doolittle Home, the Human Rights Committee, the CG Jung Center, the Netopian Club, and the Krishnamurti Society.

Neil is survived by his wife of 57 years, Melba Ann Bakker, who describes him as a “wonderful father” and a lover of people and laughter. “It didn’t matter who the person was; Neil treated all people equally and lovingly.” Other survivors are a daughter, Stephanie A. Bakker, a sister, Henrietta Weiting, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held on Sunday, September 14th, at the First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI. Memorial donations are encouraged to the First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI, 1 Benevolent St, Providence, RI 02906, to Hamilton House, 276 Angell St, Providence, RI 02906, or to the VNA Hospice of Rhode Island, 475 Kilvert Street, Warwick, RI, 02886.