Don Baker was born in Skagway, Alaska on April 12, 1932, and passed away at Evergreen Hospice in Kirkland Feb. 27, 2018, after a hard fought battle with cancer.
He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War for four years. Following his service in the Air Force, Don received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington. He retired several years ago from his academic and entrepreneurial life and was the USYSA cup chairman for 14 states west of the Rockies. He also worked with Wayne Crum to open a bingo hall in Kenmore to support youth soccer locally. He designed three homes and oversaw their construction. He was a man of many diverse talents
Don was internationally known in the field of medical sonography as the inventor of Doppler ultrasound technology. He was instrumental in the invention and production of the first commercial medical Doppler instruments for non-invasive analysis of the human cardiovascular system. Don was one of the founders of Advanced Technology Labs, which is now known as Philips Healthcare.
He was the driving force in the newly formed bioengineer department at the University of Washington. His mentor was Robert R. Rushmer who insisted that if something was invented in his department it must benefit all mankind. It was not to be simply published and sit on a library shelf somewhere.
“Don’s innovations and contributions to sonography, particularly Doppler, enable us to provide both tremendous diagnostic information and optimal patient care his impact was international. Don was recognized in 2002 with the University of Washington’s Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award. In 2016, the Life Science Innovation Northwest also honored Don as an inaugural inductee into the Washington Life Science Hall of Fame.
Don was married to Joan P. Baker who is affectionately known throughout the diagnostic medical sonography community as the “matriarch” of sonography in the United States. Don, who was a skilled chef, and his wife Joan enjoyed hosting delegations from around the world in their Kirkland home.
Don is survived by his wife Joan, son Donald and daughter Tanya his daughter Jodi and son Jeff from a previous marriage. He has seven grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Karl of Doyle, Calif., James of Aptos, Calif. and Karen Whitehead of Spokane, Wash.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Don W. and Joan P. Baker Endowed Fellowship at the University of Washington, PO Box 359505, Seattle, WA 98195-9505 or Evergreen Health Hospice in Kirkland, Wash.
