Aubrey Oscar Baynes

Aubrey Oscar Baynes was born on October 15th, 1931 at 16 New Road Vreed-en Hoop Village

West Demerara, Guyana. He passed away peacefully on May 1st, 2020 in Hingham, Massachusetts, USA.

Oscar was the first born of Oscar Beaumont Baynes and Ursula Parvati Swamy.

Oscar was a great example of an immigrant who took advantage of all opportunities available for his success story, He attended Saint Phillips Elementary School and Central High school in Georgetown.

Following high school, he worked for the Guyana government as a customs officer and a sailor. 

In 1957 he migrated to New York, and enrolled in Brooklyn College while working at the United Nations library and got married. Oscar then relocated his young family from New York City to Albuquerque, New Mexico. He had a successful career  at the University of New Mexico Law Library for 21 years from where he retired. In 1983 Oscar married his beloved wife Maria De La Strada Baynes. Following his retirement, Oscar and Maria lived with her daughter Jennifer and her husband Bill, and their son Christian between Florida and Massachusetts.

Oscar’s siblings accredited him with teaching them many life skills.  Oscar also had a great gift of learning languages easily (he mastered the local Guyanese Patois, Hindi, Dutch, French and Spanish). One of his greatest accomplishment was his love of poetry, many of which were published. Oscar’s great appreciation for nature was always noticed by his family. As he would place feathers in his hats during his walks, and admire leaves as the fell and flowers as they bloomed. Oscar walked to the beat of his own drum. He was passionate about many sports, Ping Pong, American football, baseball and of course his native cricket. He cared deeply for his family and friends and would go out of his way to visit with them whenever he can.

He is survived by his wife Maria De La Strada Baynes, her two daughters, Jennifer Stoll and Donna Legere, and their spouses Bill Archibald and Rene Legere; his beloved grandchildren, Donella Stoll, Sophia Prashad, Christian Archibald, Nicholas Legere and Gabrielle Legere. Oscar’s children also include: Jennifer, Gillian, Christopher, Gregory, Guy and Carolyn and many grandchildren; his siblings: Audrey (his twin; deceased), Harry (deceased), Frank (deceased), Louis, Patsy, George, Omar, Yvonne and Leela; aunts and uncles: Blanche, Alma, Aida, Shelly, Everard, Harry, Ivy, Mathalma, Ruben, Joseph, Ivan, Herman, Norman, Rupert and Issac; cousins: Richard, Winston, Boysie, Vibert, Reheinhart, Mark, Tony, Steven, Gregory, Tyrone, Errol, Montey, Michael, Myrna, Julie, Sandra, Brenda, Lynda, Dennis, Steve, Wilfred, Edward, Richard, David, Enid, Vivi, Norma, Lillian, Walter, Evelyn, Miles, Janet, Zondra and Rosalind.

Due to the Covid-19 resctictions only a private service can be held. A celebration of life will be held in October 2020 with details to follow.  Normally, the funeral is an opportunity for the community to gather in support of one another. Although we cannot gather together with Oscar’s family at this time, friends may still offer their support by sharing a special memory or message by clicking the link above.