Julie Baird passed peacefully on August 20, 2022 at the age of 64. Born Julienne Prizer on September 18, 1957 in Phoenixville Pennsylvania to Jean and Les Prizer, the youngest of three children. When Julie was six, the family moved to Chester Springs, PA where Julie attended a two-room school house. Described as bashful in her early years, Julie became more outgoing, making friends easy and joining many school activities. She participated in basketball and lacrosse in school, was a girl scout, played piano, and loved to sew. She grew up in the Christian Science faith. She graduated from Downingtown High School in 1975 where she was voted “best dressed”.
Julie was preceded in death by her husband, Curt. Julie and Cub (Curt’s nickname) met in Accounting class while attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In college, Julie continued to make friends easily and to this day has a group of very special friends (the 10th Street 10). Julie and Cub graduated in 1979 with a degree in Accounting and a minor in Economics.
Shortly after college, Julie accepted a position with Kroger Foods and she and Cub moved to Nashville, TN. While there, Cub proposed and they were married on May 2, 1981. In late 1981, they moved to Richmond, VA where Cub took a position with Coca-cola and Julie with United Virginia Bank (now Truist). They loved Richmond. During this time, they began the masters program at Virginia Commonwealth University earning their degrees in 1986. During their last class, Katelyn was born (late 1985) and Julie and Cub attended their MBA graduation ceremony pushing a baby stroller. In 1988, Coca-cola transferred Cub to Columbia, MD and Julie transferred with the bank. Lisa was born in 1988 completing their family and life was good living in Ellicott City.
But in 1991, tragedy struck when Cub died of a sudden heart attack while jogging in the neighborhood. Julie managed to pull herself up over time to raise Katelyn and Lisa alone and the three became “the Baird girls”. They shared a very close bond. Julie would say her greatest joy was her children and she loved being a mom.
Julie’s professional life after banking, included some consulting, two years with the Archdiocese of Baltimore and 19 years with Johns Hopkins where she most recently served as Director of Finance for the Information Technology group. She loved her work there and especially mentoring young talent in the department.
Julie’s faith as an adult led her to Mt. Hebron Presbyterian Church then to her current church home, Grace Community Church.
Julie found love again with her partner Paul Skrickus and they shared many evenings, weekends, trips, family gatherings, vacations, and much love. And they shared many a delicious dinner with Paul’s love of cooking!
Julie leaves behind her partner Paul Skrickus, daughters Katelyn Ottaway (Eric) and Lisa Baird (Chris de Simon) and two grandchildren Nathan and Lydia Ottaway. She also leaves behind her brother Lorry Prizer (Ceal), sister Jan McCarron (Joe), Baird family sisters and brothers: Pat Maatta (Tom), Judy Payne (Bob), Chris Baird, Danny Baird (Christine), Kelly Caruso (Mark), many nieces, nephews and their families and many friends all whom she deeply loved.
Julie was always a positive person who worked everything to the best she possibly could. Her mother had a saying for Julie that she could fall in a sewer and come out with a piano on her back.
An interment service will be held for close friends and family on Saturday, September 3rd at 10:00am at the Greensburg Catholic Cemetery in Greensburg, PA. A celebration of Julie’s life will be held on Wednesday, September 21st at 11:00am at Grace Community Church at 8200 Old Columbia Rd, Fulton, MD 20759.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance or the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
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