Dr. George Bakeman, USN

[William Kelly]

Anyone had any luck finding an obituary for George W. Bakeman?

I've spent as much time as I could afford over the course of the past week, and the man remains as elusive in death as the reason for his presence at the JFK autopsy was in life. So lest anyone think I've given up, the fact is I've just had no results. And to the person who gave me the tip about his associations with certain others whose names pop up in the context of the Kennedy assassination and covert intelligence: you're absolutely right, I've discovered no paper trail whatsoever connecting Bakeman to these names.

Mark,

There are those in some quarters who believe this is a wild goose chase, and that Sibert and O'Neil should have opened an Irish pub, having accidently misconstrued Dr. Bateman, USN for Admiral George Berkley, the President's personal physician, who is a doctor and in the Navy, and was present at the scene.

But Sibert & O'Neil have already mentioned him, correctly spelling his name, rank and position, while on the next page, "Dr. George Bateman, USN" is spelled out just as clearly after mention of Brigidier General Godfrey McHugh.

But there is no "W." initial in this original report, so where did the "W." come from that brings us to Mr. George W. Bateman, of Virginia Medical School?

http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/...amp;relPageId=4

Even though things are coming in slow and scantly, I think we've got a pretty good picture of Mr. GWB, and have his links to the Rockefeller Foundation, the Red Cross in Europe, the Virginia medical school and the NIH, whose photo with Alan Griggs at least puts him in the right arena.

But we still have no reason for him to be at the autopsy, other than being there on other business and becoming a spectator, certainly a possibility.

Even if Sibert & O'Neil did get it wrong, and there was no George Bateman at the autopsy, and they really meant Dr. George Berkley, then there's even more smoke and mirrors there, so its never dull.

Don't give up yet, men.

Tally Ho!

[Mark Knight]

Found some other interesting information...There WAS a DOCTOR George Bakeman, and he died in December of 1963, at age 71. Haven't found an obit, I did discover where he's buried:

Dr. George Stanley Bakeman

This would make him [potentially] available to have been at the JFK autopsy, AND credentialled as a doctor; but with his own death occurring less than a month later, it would also explain why the HSCA couldn't "locate" him...at least on the topside of the sod.

[William Kelly]

Found some other interesting information...There WAS a DOCTOR George Bakeman, and he died in December of 1963, at age 71. Haven't found an obit, I did discover where he's buried:

Dr. George Stanley Bakeman

This would make him [potentially] available to have been at the JFK autopsy, AND credentialled as a doctor; but with his own death occurring less than a month later, it would also explain why the HSCA couldn't "locate" him...at least on the topside of the sod.

Mark,

In reviewing the testimony and reports of Sibert and O'Neil, it appears they had everyone in the autopsy room sign a document, and then retyped it up, which means that somebody may have signed the name Dr. George Bakeman, USN.

If your man Dr. George S. Bakeman was also in the USN, that would also give him an excuse to be there. Maybe he was there as a patient and just got mixed up with what was going on?

Also, it would be nice to hook up with Kathlee Fitzgerald, a JFK research who was hot on the trail of George Bakeman but then never reported on what she discovered.

We may be traveling down a well worn path were others have already been.

BK

[David Josephs]

IDK, 

Could he have been the doctor who was in the autopsy room before all the other doctors, maybe he did some of the surgery to JFK's body prior to the arrival of the others...

Why would we accept that was his name if he was there doing something clandestine?  Like "Bill Smith" delivering the film to NPIC...  

https://search.archives.jdc.org/multimedia/Documents/NY_AR2132/00035/NY_AR2132_02513.pdf is a memo from "George W. Bateman" with no self reference as a doctor.. 

and this article re: the Red Cross calls him "MAJOR W Bakeman" without the George..

FWIW

https://geschichte-univie-ac-at.translate.goog/en/persons/george-w-bakeman?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

"The American Red Cross has done an extraordinary amount for the infant and other hospitals in the last two years. In the period from July 1921 to January 1922 alone, it spent the sum of 17 million French francs for Austria, of which a considerable amount, if part, which I also do not know exactly, was used for the university clinics. The American Red Cross, among other things - under the eager leadership of Major W. Bakeman - set up and funded one hundred baby welfare centers in Austria in the last year: Since the American Red Cross on June 1, 1922 concludes, as with the Society of Friends and the American Relief Administration, now would be a good time to express the university's gratitude in the form of a decoration of the boss:I apply accordingly for Major W. Bakeman - analogous toCaptain Gardner Richardson and Dr. Clark - the gold medal."Captain Gardner Richardson and Dr. Clark - the gold medal."

[Vince Palamara]

On 2/16/2009 at 2:01 PM, William Kelly said:

Mark,

In reviewing the testimony and reports of Sibert and O'Neil, it appears they had everyone in the autopsy room sign a document, and then retyped it up, which means that somebody may have signed the name Dr. George Bakeman, USN.

If your man Dr. George S. Bakeman was also in the USN, that would also give him an excuse to be there. Maybe he was there as a patient and just got mixed up with what was going on?

Also, it would be nice to hook up with Kathlee Fitzgerald, a JFK research who was hot on the trail of George Bakeman but then never reported on what she discovered.

We may be traveling down a well worn path were others have already been.

BK

Kathlee passed away in 2019:

KATHLEE FITZGERALD Obituary (2019) - Pittsburgh, PA - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (legacy.com)

I think Bakeman was just a mistake and they meant Burkley.

[Micah Mileto]

It's harder to find this guy than an upload of The Man Who Killed Kennedy with the audio in sync!

[David Josephs]

17 hours ago, Vince Palamara said:

Kathlee passed away in 2019:

KATHLEE FITZGERALD Obituary (2019) - Pittsburgh, PA - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (legacy.com)

I think Bakeman was just a mistake and they meant Burkley.

I have a tough time with that conclusion since they name Burkley earlier (2nd) in the document.  Grouping him with McHugh seems strange as well... 

 he was Associate Dean of the Medical College of Virginia

https://archive.org/stream/scarab83aug1959medi/scarab83aug1959medi_djvu.txt 

Interim Committee, April 1, 1956, to February 1, 1957, composed of Dr. Erling S. Hegre, professor of anat- 
omy, George W. Bakeman, associate dean of medicine, and Dr. Wyndham B. Blanton, Jr., assistant to the dean, 
deserves great praise for strenuous work well done. Routine had grown, and there were many special problems as 
well. An interim committee does more extra work than most of us can realize. We are deeply indebted to such a 
committee as Doctor Hegre's. 

 

Interim Committee, 1946-1947.— This interim committee was headed by George W. Bakeman with Dr. James 
P. Baker and Dr. Harvey B. Haag as associates. Such a committee can sustain academic and administrative gains 
and deserves our continuing thanks. Mr. Bakeman's committee gave real leadership and was widely appreciated. 
This is typical of all of Mr. Bakeman's work with us since he came to MCV in 1941, richly prepared for a career 
here. 

Interim Committee, April 1, 1956, to February 1, 1957, composed of Dr. Erling S. Hegre, professor of anatomy, George W. Bakeman, associate dean of medicine, and Dr. Wyndham B. Blanton, Jr., assistant to the dean, 
deserves great praise for strenuous work well done. Routine had grown, and there were many special problems as 
well. An interim committee does more extra work than most of us can realize. We are deeply indebted to such a 
committee as Doctor Hegre's. 

The Philadelphia Chapter of the Alumni Association met on December 3 at the Hotel Warwick in Philadelphia. Dr. Philip London, 
the president of the Chapter, presided and made arrangements for the lovely dinner. 
Mr. George Bakeman, associate dean of the school of medicine, 
brought word to the group about activities of the College and the executive- 
secretary told them about the Alumni Association. 

Baruj Benacerraf

I was refused admission by the numerous medical schools I applied to and would have found it impossible to study medicine except for the kindness and support of George W. Bakeman, father of a close friend, who was then Assistant to the President of the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond

In every instance of this man's bio they only refer to Bakeman as "father of a close friend".  Also, the MAJOR is referred to as "William Bakeman" without the George... fwiw.

Need to find out who the child of BAKEMAN is... 

Edited November 20, 2022 by David Josephs

[David Josephs]

A year later they relocated to New York, where Benacerraf took a two-year degree that qualified him to enter medical school. Finding a place proved hard for a Jewish-French-Hispanic foreigner and he received endless rejections. Fortunately, he had impressed George Bakeman, a friend's father who was assistant to the president of the medical college in Richmond, Virginia. 

 

Edited November 20, 2022 by David Josephs

[David Josephs]

Warren Weaver. Half a century ago, his Alice in Many Tongues: The Translations of “Alice in Wonderland” (1964)
https://www.oakknoll.com/resources/bookexcerpts/120410.pdf

In Weaver’s extensive discussion of the passage in different languages, the quality of the back-translators’ explanations obviously plays an important role. When he writes that “the Russian version is especially clever and sensitive” (p. 90), this is a judgment which can only be explained by the Russian re-translator, “Mrs. George W. Bakeman” (p. 80), having given an intelligent and comprehensive meta-commentary on what the Russian translator (Vladimir Nabokov) did in his translation.

 

Before long, as the IHD representatives were joined by those of the other RF divisions (plus the International Education Board and the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial), the need for larger quarters became apparent. Early in 1927 the Foundation purchased the two top floors of a newly constructed seven-story building at 20, rue de la Baume, a quiet street in the Eighth Arrondissement just off the Bou- levard Haussmann. From open terraces on the top floor, one could see the church of Sacre Coeur to the north and the cathedral of Notre Dame to the south. The decor, as planned by the office manager, George W. Bakeman, was quietly impressive but fell short of opulence. Carpeting salvaged from the preceding office was relaid in several rooms; floors were covered with a thick cork linoleum that, Bakeman explained, was “more sanitary and durable than a carpet” and “considerably cheaper.”

This appears to be a different BAKEMAN, no?

[David Josephs]

BAKEMAN helps BARUJ get into the school... and BARUJ is a friend of BAKEMAN's child (M/F?). 
Can these be the same person?

The Rockefeller Foundation New York European Office
20, Rue de la Baume Selskar M. Gunn Paris (8e), France
George W. Bakeman, Administrator
Cable Address: Rockfound, Paris R. Letort, Comptroller Telephone: Élysées 92-08 S. S. Paris, July 28th 1939.

The first European country opened to the Church of the Brethren for relief work following World War II was France. The establishment of the Brethren Service program came about through the agreements made by the American Aid for France on the stateside, and the American Aid for France in France. On the stateside, there was a French woman as executive, and on the French side the executive secretary was Dr. George W. Bakeman of the Medical College of Virginia.

SCARAB: Official Organ of the Alumni Association of the Medical College of Virginia
George W. Bakeman, chairman of the Admissions Committee, reported that over the years it has been the policy of the Medical College of Virginia to keep in close touch with the premedical faculty in all colleges in Virginia, and during the past seven years he has made annual visits to Virginia colleges to meet with the faculties and discuss with them and with the students the problems of admission to medical school. Members of the Admissions Committee, it was stated, "are selected by the dean on the basis of their expressed interest in the problems related to this extremely difficult responsibility of selection, their interest in students throughout the medical course, and their disposition and ability to give the time necessary not only to regular meetings and discussions of policies, but also to interviews, which may amount to several hundred hours apiece Lloyd C. Bird P'17 Chairman for each member. There are eleven members on the committee. Two arc alumni. In answer to a question regarding whether any special factors are given consideration in weighing the applications of the children of alumni, the Dean of Medicine reported that since the application form does not call for this information, the Admissions Committee learns of such kin- ship only through interview questions, supporting letters and by chance. Mr. Bakeman added, "During my service as Chairman of the Admissions Committee I can say that there has been no application from a candidate known to be an alumnus' son which has not had more than average attention. This is not due to any specific written regulation or rule of the Admissions Committee, but rather to the fact that we all appreciate the interest of the alumni in the Medical College of Virginia and want to encourage it in every way possible. Our first responsibility, of course, is to Virginia students, and we believe that only those non-Virginians who have really superb averages and personal qualifications should be accepted. This inevitably handicaps the son of a non-Virginian alumnus when compared with a resident of this state. Those sons of Virginia alumni who have been rejected have been considered only after much discussion when it was obvious that their academic or personal qualifications fell markedly below the standards which we are applying to other Virginia students." "In this connection," Mr. Bakeman said, "one must always remember the recommendations from the premedical faculty are confidential and at times reveal information concerning the student's academic record and/or even character which is not ordinarily available, which cannot be divulged to the applicant, his parents, or an interested friend."

 

 

[David Josephs]

Guess it is indeed the same guy

Faculty George W. Bakeman of Richmond, Virginia, died on December 4. Mr. Bakeman served the Medical College of Virginia in many capacities: assistant president, director of MCV Hospital, personnel manager, acting and associate dean of medicine, student counselor, chairman of student loans and scholarships, and secretary of the Board of Visitors at MCV. He retired in 1959. Among the positions he held, before coming to MCV, was as administrator of the Rockefeller Foundation's Paris office.

[David Josephs]

George W. Bakeman with his wife, Mollie, is hibernating at "The Oaks" in Hanover, Virginia. They have three children all married-Kathleen, 46, Beryl, 43 (born 1924), and Margaret, 36. There are 10 grandchildren ranging from 1 to 21, but no great-grandchildren. George has not any affiliations, but has various hobbies: cabinet work and gardening. 
 

BARUJ BENACERRAF - whose "friend of his" father was George Bakeman, also named his one daughter BERYL... suggests that his "friend" may have been Beryl Bakeman as in 1942 she would be 18, or maybe the older sister...  yet Beryl  Benacerraf becomes a doctor as well...

 

[Vince Palamara]

1 hour ago, David Josephs said:

George W. Bakeman with his wife, Mollie, is hibernating at "The Oaks" in Hanover, Virginia. They have three children all married-Kathleen, 46, Beryl, 43 (born 1924), and Margaret, 36. There are 10 grandchildren ranging from 1 to 21, but no great-grandchildren. George has not any affiliations, but has various hobbies: cabinet work and gardening. 
 

BARUJ BENACERRAF - whose "friend of his" father was George Bakeman, also named his one daughter BERYL... suggests that his "friend" may have been Beryl Bakeman as in 1942 she would be 18, or maybe the older sister...  yet Beryl  Benacerraf becomes a doctor as well...

 

I suppose then it is a good news/bad news situation. While I seem to stand corrected that Bakeman did indeed exist, he is long gone as are (probably) his children, assuming they would even know anything anyway. And, at this very late date, could anything even be verified or trusted?

[David Josephs]

Based on the age and where she was, it seems more likely that BARUJ was friends with the older sister Kathleen yet still names his one child after the middle sister...

 

Kathleen L. (BAKEMAN) Schorger, 84, Aurora, passed away September 13, 2004. She was born on July 6, 1920 in London, England, the daughter of George and Molly (Davidson) Bakeman.

She attended school at Baccalaureate es Lettres Lycee de Saint Cloud (France) and Lycee Francais de New York.

In 1943 she received her Bachelors (Sociology and Psychology) from Richmond Professional Institute of the College of William and Mary, Richmond, VA. In 1946 she received her Masters from Columbia School of Social Work (then known as the New York School of Social Work).

She retired after 19 years as a Clinical Social Worker for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI.

Kathleen married William Schorger in 1973. William passed away in November 2003. She enjoyed reading, art, and traveling. She and her husband who predeceased her were world travelers.