Earlier this month, the beloved Dr. Richard Baer saw his Savior face-to-face. While the Chesterton House community grieves alongside his other family and friends, we also rejoice in both his eternal life and the incredible legacy he left behind.
A legend in the Cornell Christian community, Dick Baer taught a beloved course on “Religion, Ethics, and the Environment” that Andy Crouch once called a “rite of passage for Christian undergraduate students.” He was a tireless advocate for a thoughtful but bold Christian witness on campus, with dozens of students baptized and joining the church as a byproduct of taking his course.
Beyond his direct impact at Cornell, Dick was pivotal in laying the foundation for Chesterton House. He served as founder Karl Johnson’s PhD advisor and later as a Board member. His influence in shaping students’ lives and the Christian intellectual community in Ithaca is truly legendary.
Chesterton House has been honored to recognize Dick, along with his wife of 48 years Carol, as one of our four Founding Couples. As with any ripple effect, it’s impossible to know the true extent of his impact and influence, but it’s certain that hundreds–if not thousands–of students have been both directly and indirectly transformed through his legacy of faith, love, and leadership.
Our prayers and hearts are with his family during their time of mourning. We will continue to steward the ministry Dick was so passionate about and continue his legacy of being a faithful Christian presence at Cornell.
We invite you to read Dick’s touching obituary, listen to some of his lectures, and to learn more about how he helped shape the foundation of Chesterton House.
