Baron Desnick

Desnick Baron. In loving memory Of our father. Of St. Paul and formerly Delray Beach, FL. Born in Kensington, MN on January 18, 1916, Baron was preceded in death by his beloved wife Nina, of 60 years, brothers Joe, Theodore and Milton, and parents Abe and Lillian. Survived by daughter Margie Desnick; son Tony Desnick; daughter-in-law Ulla Tervo Desnick; two precious grandchildren Ellie and Sonja; sisters Rivian Goldberg and Shirley Segal (St. Louis Park); a special sister-in-law and brother-in-law Ethel and Len Mayeron (St. Paul); sister-in-law Marion Mayeron (San Diego), and Ruth Hartman (Golden Valley); in addition to many nieces and nephews who were very dear to him; and close friends in the Twin Cities and Florida. Baron was a retired pharmacist who graduated from the University of Minnesota Pharmacy School in 1938. He and his brother founded Desnick Bros. Drugs, and Baron ran the St. Paul store at Lexington and University for over 35 years. Baron was on the planning team for building the St. Paul JCC and was a lifetime board member. He also served on the board of Temple of Aaron (St. Paul) and was well-known in Del Ray Beach for designing the stained glass windows of Temple Anshei Sholom. Baron was an active member of the Gleneagles (Florida) and Hillcrest Country Club, where he got a hole-in-one, made lasting friendships, and put in many pleasurable rounds of golf. Members of Hillcrest and the Temple of Aaron still remember Baron as party planner extraordinaire; he created a magical evening in Paris by transforming cardboard into an Eiffel Tower for a New Year's Eve party, and designed a rising platform for a dance band for a wedding reception. His artistic talent was also displayed in his marble etchings in which he chiseled prayers or sayings in Hebrew, along with his wife's name and his signature. Although his hobby contributed to his pulmonary fibrosis, he admitted it gave him many hours of pleasure, and he enjoyed giving the finished artwork to friends and family, celebrating simchas and to synagogues for their gift shops. All who knew Baron will remember him as a feisty guy, who dressed to a tee, and lived life with gusto. He truly lived one day at a time, having recently fulfilled a life's dream in visiting Mount Rushmore and even going to a Twin's game. He was a master of the remote, clicking between baseball, golf and wrestling, but the Lawrence Welk program on Saturday night got his full attention. Baron's trademark was sporting an old presidential campaign button; displays of his collection received publicity in Palm Beach and Highland Village newspapers. Baron had a generous heart; he had returned address stickers from several charities to whom he sent donations. Baron ran his drugstore with precision; he was a master of retailing and attentive to details. He ground pharmaceuticals with a mortar and pestle, and was available to help customers from 7 am to 11 pm. Baron overlooked race in his hiring practices before it was fashionable and treated everyone with respect. He served as a commissioner on the Governor's Commission for Human Rights in Minnesota. Baron had a great sense of humor and went the extra distance to get to know people; he always asked a person's name and showed sincere interest in them. Since moving to St. Paul, Baron enjoyed his hours playing bridge with friends at the Wellington, and was appreciative of the wonderful care he received from Lacey at Care Mate, and the team of Heartland Hospice. Baron was outspoken, yet very humble, and will be missed by his family and friends more than he will ever know. Funeral services WEDNESDAY 10:30 AM TEMPLE OF AARON SYNAGOGUE, 616 S. Mississippi River Blvd. Memorials are preferred to the Jewish Community Center of St. Paul, 1375 St. Paul Ave, St. Paul 55116, or the Children's Home Society of Minnesota, 1605 Eustis St., St. Paul 55108, or the donor's favorite charity. SHIVA at the Wellington, 2235 Rockwood Ave (Wednesday & Thursday). Arr. Hodroff & Sons.

Published on July 29, 2003