Obituary of Terri Rakauskas Baker

Terri Benway Rakauskas Baker, 71

Terri R. Baker , 71, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Christmas Eve at home with her husband, Wayne Baker, by her side following complications from bile duct cancer.

Born on April 22, 1949 to Frank and Eleanor Benway, Terri grew up in a 2-bedroom house in Pembroke with her older brother Rob and younger brother Rick. As soon as she was old enough to work she became a lifeguard at the town landing and scooped ice cream at Mixes. She graduated Silver Lake High in 1967 and started waitressing at the Lake Palace alongside her lifelong friend, Dottie Stafford. She met her husband, Paul Rakauskas, through a friend who was stationed with him in Vietnam. Not long after Paul returned from Vietnam they got married, moved to Kingston, and started a family. Her son David was born in 1969 and Daniel less than a year later. While waitressing on weekends and raising two boys, Terri went to community college at night and obtained an associate degree. Pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher, she enrolled at Bridgewater State. After 7 years working, raising children, and commuting to night classes, she became a college graduate in 1983, and accepted a gym teacher position at Sacred Heart High School in Kingston.

Terri had boundless energy and work ethic. She coached field hockey at Sacred Heart and ran youth tennis & swimming lessons on the weekends while rarely missing her own sons’ youth games and tournaments. She loved running, biking, skiing, and swimming. She ran many road races, rode the Pan-Mass Challenge, and swam across Stetson Pond. Terri took over the Silver Lake Boys Tennis Team in 1984 and had tremendous success including Boston Globe Coach of the Year honors. She coached both boys and girls tennis, and field hockey during her 30+ year career and was inducted into the Silver Lake Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.  

In the classroom, she was a tireless advocate for kids and their mental and physical well-being. She started the Health & Wellness department at Silver Lake and was its first teacher. She started the Drug Free Society, Brave New Girls Club, Peer Leaders Club, and the SL Employees Wellness Club. She was also an advisor to the Ski & Adventure Club, chaperoned several trips to Washington DC, and ran the Kingston Summer Recreation Program for many years.

Terri showed amazing resiliency when her husband, Paul, died suddenly of a heart attack in 1999 while he was out for an afternoon run. At 49, she had to reset. She turned to where she had found satisfaction – work and sports – and took a job at the front desk of the Kingsbury Club. There, she met a savior in her 2nd husband, Wayne Baker.  The two understood life was precious and set out to maximize it. Always up for an adventure, Terri and Wayne enjoyed their RV – visiting 45 states and 9 provinces. She took trips to China, Africa, and Europe. She and Wayne enjoyed cruising on their Goldwing Motorcycle, Harley, and scooter. They bought a cottage in Nova Scotia, trading it a few years later for one in Nettles Island, FL, where they had found their happy place

– an active community of good people where she and Wayne kayaked, swam, played pickle ball and tennis. She loved her dock parties, relaxing, watching the pelicans, and reading a book or the Boston Globe, as well as walks to see the sunrise over the ocean.  

But most of all she enjoyed playing tennis and being with her grandkids: Niki, Ryan & Kyle Rakauskas of Duxbury; Ben & Jack Rakauskas of Hingham; Tyler & Devin Ulvila of Plymouth; Sean & Asher Baker of Oklahoma. Terri was a fixture at Duxbury and Hingham youth games for years. She loved to support and watch her grandchildren experience and grow. She was always thinking of creative things to do with her grandkids that would make visits to Nana’s house or campground an adventure. With an infectious laugh and so much energy and enthusiasm you couldn't help but enjoy yourself around her. Terri was an ordinary person whose energy and positivity allowed her to do extraordinary things.

A small private service is planned at Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury and the National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to www.cholangiocarcinoma.org .