Dewitt "Bud" Baker, longtime publishing executive, died February 13. He was 92.
Baker was in the publishing business for more than 45 years, starting in sales at Affiliated Publishers and Simon & Schuster. He was president of Golden Books, Western Publishing. He went to Random House as executive v-p and CFO and later was president of Baker & Taylor and E.P. Dutton. He also worked for R.R. Donnelley and later started several small businesses. He was a founder of the Book Industry Study Group.
---
Charlie Trachtenbarg, longtime regional manager for Putnam, Morrow and then HarperCollins, where he was most recently manager of sales analysis, died on February 23.
In an announcement to staff, Josh Marwell, president of sales at HarperCollins, called Trachtenbarg's death "a big loss to us" and described him as "a devoted and talented colleague and big-hearted and generous friend."
There will be a celebration of his life on Sunday, March 12, in Mission Viejo, Calif. Donations in his honor can be sent to the Big Sur Land Trust or First Book.
---
Gary Lawton, a longtime publishers sales rep and sales executive, died on February 14. He was 78. After graduating from college, he joined Westminster Press, selling religious books. He then worked for Hopkins University Press, Harvard University Press and HarperCollins and retired in 2003. A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held tomorrow, Saturday, March 4, at 2 p.m. in St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, 435 Central St., Acton, Mass. 01720. Burial services will be held privately at the convenience of the family.