Robert Baird Mitchell Jr.

Robert Baird Mitchell, Jr., 83, of Key West, FL and Glass Lake, NY, passed away at his home at Glass Lake, Tuesday, February 28, 2023, after a yearlong illness.

Born in Englewood, NJ to the late Robert Baird and Harriett (Woodruff) Mitchell, Bob grew up mainly in Ridgewood, NJ, although he shared many stories from time living in Evanston, IL. The family spent summers on Glass Lake in Averill Park, NY. Bob attended Union College and graduated from Newark College of Engineering. 

Bob married Alyson Verwer Mitchell in June of 1962. In 1973, while raising a young family with two children, he undertook great risk to start his own business, Baird Industries. Originally founded to manufacture wire products, Bob ultimately steered the company to focus on medical product uses. He was incredibly clever in his approach, building all the production equipment himself. He proved that 2x4’s are suitable engineering materials for machinery. In order to meet customer needs, he routinely brought production home for his then teen and preteen children to work on, thus providing endless learning opportunities for them.

Bob and Alyson raised their family in Wyckoff, NJ and continued to spend summers on Glass Lake as well as the Jersey Shore. He loved boating and collecting antique vehicles.

Bob could make, conceptualize, and fix just about anything. He was proud of his Scottish heritage, and some say he embodied the stereotypes of inventiveness and frugality, believing that all mechanisms can be repaired forever.

Bob’s mind and curiosity were always at work. He enjoyed intellectual humor and appreciated a quick wit. He will be remembered as extraordinarily clever.

After selling his business in 2012, Bob and Alyson moved to Key West, FL although they continued to spend time on Glass Lake. When not working on project houses, cars, or boats, Bob enjoyed cruising and traveling the world with his wife.

Bob is survived by his wife of 60 years, Alyson Verwer Mitchell; a daughter, Whitney Beth (Peter) Perrotta; a son, Robert Alan (Cyndie) Mitchell; five grandchildren, Peter James Perrotta, Katherine Baird Perrotta, Ethan Conrad Mitchell, Elliott John Mitchell, and Oliver Ross Mitchell; a sister, Anne Cobb. He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mary Jane Schreiber.

Relatives and friends are invited and may call 10am-1pm on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the Perry-Komdat Funeral Chapel, 2691 NY 43 at Glass Lake, Averill Park, NY, followed by a funeral service at 1pm. Interment following the service will be in the Sand Lake Union Cemetery.

Bob’s family suggests donations in his memory be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 401 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (stjude.org) or the Sand Lake Ambulance PO Box 222 West Sand Lake, NY 12196. 

Visit www.perrykomdat.com for directions and a guestbook.