Benjamin R. Baird, of 59 East Main Street, passed away on Wednesday, 12 January 2022 at his home.

Ben was born on March 4, 1944, in Johnstown, New York and was the son of Everett and Gertrude (Ripton) Baird.  Both of Ben’s parents predeceased him.  On June 9, 1982, in Bemus Point, NY, he married his wife of 35 years, Kathleen H. Baird, who predeceased Ben on October 29, 2017.

Ben was a 1962 Graduate of Kenmore East High School.

Ben graduated from Erie County Technical Institute in 1964 then completed his education with a Bachelor of Science from Ohio Northern University in 1970.

Ben began a lifelong civil engineering career which took him all over the world working on a wide variety of construction and infrastructure projects.  Ben worked overseas in Nigeria, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Cypress, Abu Dhabi, Botswana, and Guyana as well as on projects in Western New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.

  Ben and Kathy loved to travel, visiting Cyprus, Switzerland, Madeira, Canada, and their absolute favorite destination:  Scotland.  Ben and Kathy will have their ashes scattered on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

In 1993, Ben and Kathy returned to the United States, living in Bethlehem, PA until 2003 when they moved to Cuba, NY.

After retirement from working, Ben enjoyed watching sports on TV, visiting with family and friends, and crossword puzzles.

Ben is survived by three stepchildren, Colette Colburn (Ben Valum) of Custer, WA; Erika Zollinger of Chesapeake, VA; and Jason Zollinger (Rose) of South Dayton, NY.  Ben loved hearing about the adventures of his grandgirls; Midori, Muriel, Olivia, and Kieran and of his two great grandchildren; Charlie and Sebastian.  Ben in also survived by one sister, Jeannette (John) Piccirillo of Cypress, TX, two nephews, Jeff (Erika) Piccirillo of Waukesha, WI and Gary (Elizabeth) Piccirillo of Cypress, TX, and one niece, Kristin Piccirillo of Greenfield, WI.

Services will be private and at the convenience of the family.