Our family is saddened to inform you of the passing of Pam Baker Trostle.
Visitation will be held at St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 1679 Broadway Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (http://www.staidan.org/) Monday, June 27, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and a
memorial service will also be held at St. Aidan’ s on Tuesday, June 28 1:00 p.m.

 
 
Trostle, Pamela Baker, age 58, passed away suddenly on June 22, 2011. Pam and her husband,
Earl Trostle celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary last month. Born November 25, 1952 in
Boston, Massachusetts to Jack L. Baker Sr. and Mary Jesson Baker (deceased). The oldest of
six children, Pam moved with the family to Ann Arbor in 1960, and was a member of Huron
High School’ s first graduating class in 1970. Pam became involved in civil rights and antiwar
organizing in her church youth group at St. Aidan's. She helped organize transportation to
marches on Washington, distributed underground newspapers at Ann Arbor High, prepared
food for antiwar demonstrations, and helped bring political speakers to Eastern Michigan
University. She went on to be heavily involved in school and community organizing in 1980s
Flint, Michigan. After living in Queens, New York, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Flint and Port
Huron, Michigan, Pam returned to Ann Arbor in 1989. Pam used her BSW from University of
Michigan-Flint, and her MSW from the University of Michigan for many years in the Ann Arbor
Community. After being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, Pam was a group leader and active
member of the Manic Depressive and Depressive Association and the Fresh Start Community
Clubhouse. The many friends she made there both gave her purpose and were a blessing in her
life. As the wife of a Vietnam veteran, she particularly enjoyed working with disabled veterans
helping them apply for housing and the benefits they earned through their military service. Her
work on behalf of the differently-abled led to her being appointed to the Ann Arbor Commission
on Disability Issues and the Univ. of Michigan Council for Disability Concerns. Having been in
a wheelchair for more than ten years, Pam understood intimately the physical challenges day to
day living poses for those in our community. She was very pleased to have recently persuaded
a local grocery store to add six Amigo motorized carts that allow disabled people to shop
independently. http://www.annarborcil.org/2010/12/20/new-scooters-arrive-at-local-kroger/
 
Pam is survived by: her loving husband, Earl Trostle, her son Chris White, her father and
stepmother, Jack and Susan Baker, her brothers and sisters, David Baker (Jim Wilton), Jack
Baker (Dianne), Cynthia Baker (Tom Gilroy), Geoffrey Baker, Carole Baker, stepbrothers
Michael and Frank Williams, and her eleven nieces and nephews. Pam loved to laugh and had an
incredible gift to encourage and develop the positives in people she encountered. We will miss
our Pam and hope she is at peace.
 
Visitation will be held at St. Aidan’ s Episcopal Church, 1679 Broadway Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (http://www.staidan.org/) Monday, June 27, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and a
memorial service will also be held at St. Aidan’ s on Tuesday, June 28 1:00 p.m. Memoriams to
Neighborhood Senior Services, Ypsilanti, MI (a charity founded by her mother).