"He was the greatest storyteller I've ever heard," said Callanan. "He often thought he should have been a preacher or stand-up comedian. In fact, he blended both into his presentation. He was like that quote, 'Cicero was a great orator, but Demosthenes could make men march.'"
Callanan said Wusinich waged "a lifelong battle to improve codes and standards which regulated the electrical industry. He is single-handedly credited with awakening the IBEW to the importance of, and the need for, effective participation in codes and standards."
Wusinich was a 1953 graduate of St. Thomas More High School and served in the Navy. He also had been a volunteer fireman in Narberth.
Survivors include his wife, the former Carol Magee; three sons, Mark, Scott and Matthew; a brother, John; and a sister, Margaret Scott.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 1500 Marian Road, Abington. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.
Friends may call between 7 and 9 tonight at the Fitzpatrick Funeral Home, 1500 York Road, Abington.
Henrietta Baker
Henrietta Baker, a former school dietician and a leader in her church and community, died Thursday. She was 78 and lived in North Philadelphia.
For many years Baker worked at the Most Precious Blood Catholic Church school cafeteria, eventually becoming the dietician. In 1972, she resigned to care for her grandson, Brian, who had special needs and medical challenges.
"Henrietta's unselfish acts of love and devotion never wavered for her family," said a family member.
She was a member of Most Precious Blood Church, which later merged with St. Martin de Porres Church, where she sang on the choir, taught sewing to senior citizens and often was called upon to volunteer her time for the Parish Community Social Service Ministry.
She was a charter member for 25 years of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Peter Claver Court 187. She served as grand lady for two terms, vice grand lady for eight terms and lecturer for a number of years. Baker also was a charter member of Sister Theo Bowman Chapter 34, 4th degree.
Baker was a member of a social club, the Ladies of Joy, where she served as president, coordinating various activities such as leisure trips and shopping sprees. For a number of years, she worked as a judge of elections for the 32d Ward, 31st Division and was financial secretary and business manager for Turner Street Clean Block Organization.
Born in Greenwood, S.C., Baker came to Philadelphia when she was one years old. During World War II, she worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and was one of the few black women to work as an electrician on the battleship USS Wisconsin from 1942 to 1943.
Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Donald Baker; two sons, Donald Jr. and Wayne; a daughter, Cheryl Baker Branham; nine grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and a sister, Bernice Sims.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Martin de Porres Church, 2340 W. Lehigh Ave., where friends may call two hours earlier. Burial will be in Greenmount Cemetery. *
