Island Icon: Aida Baker The monthly column, Island Icons, of historical vignettes from the Coronado Historical Association features insights and personal memories of locals. An initiative of CHA and its community volunteers, it is the product of a special archival oral history project that records the local personal histories that may be lost in the near future. This month’s Island Icon is Aida Baker. By Kimberlie Guerrieri, Coronado Historical Association Volunteer There are many reasons why people find themselves living in Coronado. But Aida Baker’s arrival story might be a first. In 1975, she came here on a simple errand
Aida celebrated her 100th birthday party at the Coronado Retirement Village.
and never left. Aida Celestine Palange was born in
After 31 years of active duty, James
training. Tony, a talented guitarist, had
Oakland, California in 1921 to Italian
retired from the Navy in 1953 and took
joined a rock band. Aida and James decided
immigrant parents. She was the youngest
a position with McDonnell Douglas.
to pack-up and follow their boys back to the
of five children. After graduating from
When he retired for good in 1963, he
United States. It was the start of yet another
Castlemont High School in 1939, she
wanted to move the family abroad so their
new chapter in their lives. While their sons
attended USC for a time before returning to
young boys could learn another language.
knew where they were going, Aida and James
her parent’s home back in Oakland.
They considered Europe, but decided on
did not. Their plan was to simply visit some
It was there she met her husband, Capt.
Guadalajara, Mexico. It was closer to Aida’s
cities near family and look for a new home.
James Ellis Baker. Twenty-two years her
family in California, and it had an excellent
And here comes that little errand
senior, he was a 1922 graduate of the Naval
international school.
mentioned earlier. In anticipation of their
Academy and the Commanding Officer of
In 1975, sons Marvin and Tony
move back to the states, Aida’s husband
the Oakland Naval Air Station at the time.
completed their education, and both found
had their mail forwarded to an old Naval
They married in 1947 and together had two
themselves returning state-side. Marvin was
Academy buddy in Coronado. It was a
sons – Marvin and Tony.
heading to Canada to finish his medical
convenient stop right across the border.
P62 | Coronado Magazine
