Rupert Baron

Rupert Baron of Lantana, Fla., and formerly of Warwick, passed away Tuesday Nov. 7, 2012, in Bethesda Hospital’s Hospice unit in Boynton Beach, Fla. He was 89.

Born Dec. 28, 1922, in Essex, England, he was the son of Cyril and Ella Baron.

In 1938 he boarded a ship headed for New York City, where he attended college. During the war he served with the United States Army, where he became a U.S. citizen. He toured with the USO European Theatre of Operations. He appeared in various shows in the 1940’s: “Junior Miss,” “Kiss and Tell” and “Call Me Mister” with Carl Reiner, Buddy Hackett and choreographer, Bob Fosse.

In 1950, a theater friend approached him to work for one day as a stage manager at this new thing: CBS television. His one day ended at his retirement in 1987. He fondly called it the “Elysian Days” of television in New York.

He worked as a production stage manager behind the scenes and around the world for some of the biggest television shows of his day. Some of his credits included The Ed Sullivan Show, Jackie Gleason Show, Ted Mack Amateur Hour, Armstrong Circle Theatre, Gary Moore Show, To Tell The Truth, The Honeymooners, Captain Kangaroo, Lucille Ball Special, the Apollo moon landing, Republican and Democratic national conventions, Miss America, 60 Minutes, the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite and then with Dan Rather.

He worked with Judy Garland, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Shirley MacLaine , Gene Kelly, Barbra Streisand, Jackie Gleason, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Jackson Five, Whitney Houston, Dick Clark, William Shatner and Betty White.

Rupert was a member of the Directors Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the VFW post 4662 in Warwick.

When he retired in 1987 he moved to his “gentlemen’s estate” in Warwick. At Rupert’s “Tara” you could find him perched on his tractor gloating over his “million dollar view,” or at his barn fussing over his horse Trigger, his many goats, alpacas, various ducks, chickens and once a disabled goose.

Rupert started his second “career” at the Warwick Valley Humane Society, which had been founded years by an old friend, the actress Gretchen Wyler.

For the next 22 years he devoted his time, love and sometimes his barn to homeless and abused animals. He served on the society’s Board of Directors and helped public relations for the group.

He was known for driving around town in his bright blue pickup truck, running errands for the Humane Society. Rupert could often be seen outside of ShopRite, selling tickets. And at Applefest Rupert would urged the crowds near the chamber’s Caboose to support the Humane Society.

You could never miss him: the English accent, his cowboy hat, cowboy boots and a cheery “hello dear” to all the ladies.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Roberta (née Graziano), his daughter Lysa and husband Donald Conlon and their son Keith of Warwick; his son Rob Bruce Baron and wife Michele Armour of Tappan; his sister Joyce and husband Richard Shapiro of N. Kingstown, R.I.; and eight nieces and nephews.

His family said in a statement: “Even though we are so saddened by his loss, he would say ‘This, too, shall pass.’”

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held next summer at the Warwick Valley Humane Society at the barn built in 2009 that bears his name.

Please send donations in his memory to the Warwick Valley Humane Society.