Arthur "Art" Bakaitis, 67, former corporate director of communications for Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., passed away on November 25 in Ohio. He worked more than 30 years with Cooper Tire before his retirement.
A longtime resident of Findlay, Ohio, and, more recently, of Prosperity, S.C., Bakaitis was born May 16, 1936, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. As a youth he was active in the Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
Following high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served abroad.
Bakaitis served on the founding board of directors of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Hancock County. He also served on the Board of Family Services of Hancock County, the Findlay YMCA, Boy Scouts of America and the Findlay-Hancock Country Public Library.
In South Carolina he was a part-time worker and a faithful volunteer at the Newberry County Memorial Hospital Cardiac Rehab Center.
Bakaitis married the former Nancy Susan Martin on September 8, 1962. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth A. McAllister and Gail (Bryan) DeWolf; two grandchildren, Nicholas and Rachel DeWolf; brothers Joseph (Peggy) and Frederick (Patricia); 10 nephews and nieces; 12 great nephews and nieces; and one great-great niece.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Leonard.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers some act of kindness or help be extended to a member of the community in Art’s memory.
