December 11, 2014 by Andrea Szyper
Our own Sue Baker is an outstanding colleague and person. She’s worked for Untours for 15 years. Most of that time was spent on the Italian Team, where she helped direct our program expansion. Her research helped us map out our programs in the Amalfi Coast, Rome, and Florence. In fact, her early reading pointed our Greek Untour to Nafplio! Sue knows what our clients like and always picks a winner.
Sue scaled back hours when it was best for the company. In the last five years, she has jumped in to help on our programs in France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Greece, and Eastern Europe. Her flexibility is impressive. She has a magic touch with our guests, makes a great travel companion, and keeps a million details in her head. In the office, conversation often turns toward plant-based nutrition, farmer’s markets and Montessori education, some of Sue’s other passions.
Sue is leaving us this winter. We are so sad to see her go and insist she is much too young to retire. We trust she’ll fill her free time with more of what she loves: volunteering, cooking, golf, the beach, and being a grandma.
We’ll miss you, Sue! In the meantime, here are a few of our favorite memories of you, and some warm wishes…
Sue is one mighty fine colleague. Working with Sue has made for some of my happiest times at Untours. On the days she was helping me I had a little extra spring in my step walking into the office. Clients would confirm that Sue is a great listener. She is of the most level-headed and even-keeled people I have ever met. When we had a moment, I loved talking about plant-based recipes and valued her insights and tips into child-rearing. Sue, you will be greatly missed by the Untours family!
– Cathrin Baumbach
Sue has worked for more teams with more destinations than anyone in our history. Somehow she’s managed to keep them all straight and make lots of customers happy at the same time. We’ll miss her!
– Brian Taussig-Lux
A favorite memory is flying from Newark to Rome with Sue, picking up our car, jet lagged, and making the drive to Spoleto for the Italian all-staff meeting in Umbria. What great company she was! And a sport for driving the whole way and playing chauffeur during the summit.
– Andi Cancelliere
When I think of Sue and her family, I think of sunflowers in Tuscany. I think of rays of golden light reflecting from the flowers, of yellow pollen and of scratchy sunflower stems. I also think of teenagers. It continues to amaze me how seemingly easy it was for Sue and Dave to enjoy and travel with their teenagers. Of course those teenagers are delightful adults now, but we all know how trying any travel companion can be after a while. This “after a while” did not seem to apply to the Bakers! Best of luck and all good wishes to Sue and her family.
– Harriet, Tuscany on-site staff person
Sue is one of the most polite people I know, so we were shocked to learn at a staff retreat that she had been the Hell Mistress of her sorority in college! I think this was what inspired Andi and me to play practical jokes on her each time she was away on a trip. She would return to find her desk ringed in toilet paper. We wallpapered her corner with George Clooney pictures once. We turned her desktop into a houseplant jungle. My personal favorite was when we decked her telephone headset Vegas style (see below). She has such a great sense of humor. And beyond that, she’s taught me so much about travel, work, and parenting.
– Andrea Szyper
I remember Sue bringing in St. Germain liqueur and champagne for a surprise toast to my first overseas trip with Untours! She has always been gracious, kind and willing to help in every way possible. She is very level-headed and has an abundance of patience. If only we could all be like Sue! Those are big shoes to fill…
– Sonia Ratcliffe
For me, having had a number of changes in teammates the last 3 years, you could say Sue was a Jack of All Untours Trades. Though not a Master of any one, she always managed to get whatever job you needed done! In between Mia, Pat and Sonia, she was always willing to fill in the blanks needed and take the time to start the training process for the new folks. She allowed me to do the heavy lifting, much like a spotting partner.
– Dodge Amaral
I loved seeing Sue’s teacher personality come out. Kids would visit the office and flock to her desk. She’d adopt the demeanor of the grade school teacher whom everyone loves and remembers fondly. That patience translates so well into working with clients and colleagues, Sue is simply unflappable and will be missed.
– Ellen Peters
I’ve really enjoyed working with Sue. I would always ask her about her travels. It seemed like she was always returning from somewhere exciting: Europe, Safari, Galapagos, the Virgin Islands. I loved to tease her about it, and was always eager to hear her stories. She’s been everywhere except Switzerland! She promises me she’ll go!
– Francy Breon
Sue gave me a very warm welcome when I came for my interview and in my early days with Untours. We had a few opportunities to compare notes about our seaside homes in Delaware and the area around them.
– Patti Kirkpatrick
