SHS '93 Reunions

Charles May · Guest

I just wanted to let people know that Michael Baer passed away earlier this week.

I know he did not go to SHS with us but for those of us who also remember the two interesting years at Grant Middle School may remember Michael.

According to the information I received he was driving when he had a diabetic episode. He crashed his car as a result. I do not know if it was the crash or the diabetic episode that claimed his life.

During my years at Grant I was honored to count Michael as one of my closest friends. He will be missed.

Josh J · Guest

From http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/37606.asp

City man dies in wreck in southern Illinois
Michael Baer had been campaigning for GOP high court candidate

By JASON PISCIA
STAFF WRITER

RALEIGH - A Springfield man on the campaign trail for an Illinois Supreme Court candidate died in a one-vehicle crash Monday night in southern Illinois.

Michael R. Baer, 29, of the 1700 block of Bent Oak Drive was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital in Eldorado.

Authorities said they are looking into the possibility the crash was caused by Baer experiencing a diabetic-related reaction while he was driving.

"We do know that Baer called a friend in Springfield about 10 minutes prior to the accident and stated he was experiencing an insulin reaction," Saline County Sheriff Ed Miller said in a written statement. "We also know that he was a severe diabetic, and the initial investigation points towards a medical reason for the crash."

Baer was a member of the Illinois Senate Republican staff but had taken a leave of absence from that job to be a campaign aide for Lloyd Karmeier, a Republican judge who is running for a seat on the state Supreme Court from southern Illinois.

Baer had been at a Saline County Republican Central Committee meeting in Harrisburg earlier Monday evening and was driving to another meeting in nearby Hamilton County, authorities said.

Baer was headed east near Raleigh, some 30 miles east of Marion, at about 7:10 p.m. when the 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada he was driving veered off the roadway about 150 feet, struck a culvert, went airborne for 20 feet and landed on the passenger side, the sheriff's office said.

He was extricated from the vehicle by the Eldorado Fire Department and taken to Ferrell Hospital.

Karmeier was among those mourning Baer's death.

"He was a very personable guy," the judge said. "He enjoyed politics and was always trying to think of ways to get our message to more voters. He will be greatly missed by his friends, his family and by all of us who had the privilege of working with him."

Since January, Baer had been a staffer for the Senate's Local Government Committee, providing Republican members with analysis of legislation.

"Mike was a hard worker, a loyal Republican, a fellow (St. Louis) Cardinals fan and a good friend to those lucky enough to know him well," Senate GOP Leader Frank Watson said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to his family and friends at the loss of this fine young man."

Before joining the Senate staff, Baer was a legislative liaison at the Illinois Commerce Commission. He also held positions at the departments of Professional Regulation and Central Management Services during his state government career, which began in August 1999.

Jason Piscia can be reached at 788-1525 or jason.piscia@sj-r.com.

kwamecurtis · Guest

Geez, i'm sorry to hear this...wow. I really liked him in Middle school. The Baer family is in my thoughts.

Josh J. · Guest

From http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=3&GA=93&DocTypeId=SR&DocNum=742&GAID=3&LegID=14037&SpecSess=&Session=

SR074LRB093 24036 CSA 54176 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

    WHEREAS, The process of making laws in Illinois relies on staff members who work closely with legislators to enact good public policy that benefits all citizens; and

    WHEREAS, Michael "Mike" Baer of Springfield joined the Senate Republican Staff in January 2004, working as a legislative analyst with the Local Government Committee; and

    WHEREAS, Mike was passionate about the good things that the government could accomplish, and was driven to learn more so he could make a difference; and

    WHEREAS, A loyal Republican, Mike's favorite President was Ronald Reagan; and

    WHEREAS, His interest in politics and government was evident early on, as he served as Senate President in the Model Illinois Government; and

    WHEREAS, He graduated from Sacred Heart Griffin High School in Springfield in 1993, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Springfield in 1999; and

    WHEREAS, In 2000, he was the recipient of the Dunn Fellowship in the Governor's Office; and

    WHEREAS, Before joining the Senate staff in 2004, Mike was a legislative liaison, and later, the director of Government Affairs at the Illinois Commerce Commission; he also worked at the Department of Professional Regulation and the Department of Central Management Services; and

    WHEREAS, Earlier this year, Mike took a leave of absence from his work with the Senate to help with a campaign for the Supreme Court, the highest court in Illinois; and

    WHEREAS, Mike was en route from one campaign event to another on October 11, 2004, when he was killed in a one-car accident in Saline County; and

    WHEREAS, Mike is survived by his parents, Steven and Rhonda Baer of Springfield, and Susan Baer of Palm Beach, Florida; his sister, Melissa Baer of Columbia, Missouri; his brother, Jonathan Baer of Springfield; his grandparents and several aunts, uncles and cousins; and

    WHEREAS, Mike dearly loved his younger brother and sister, and enjoyed taking care of them; and

    WHEREAS, he was a member of Temple B'rith Shalom, the Springfield Jewish Federation, and B'nai B'rith; and

    WHEREAS, Mike was an ardent fan of the St. Louis Cardinals; and

    WHEREAS, Mike was a hard worker, a generous person who would give you the shirt off his back; a person known for his honesty and integrity, and a good friend to those lucky enough to know him well; therefore, be it

    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that our hearts go out to his family and friends at the loss of this fine young man; and be it further

    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Mike Baer with our most profound and heartfelt sympathy.