Article published Wednesday, May 2, 2007 PATRICIA A. BAIDEL, 1956-2007 Agency chief reached out to at-risk kids
Patricia A. Baidel, 50, executive director of Sylvania Area Family Services who helped form the Sylvania Youth Diversion Program, died of a heart attack Monday at the family services facility.
Under Mrs. Baidel, Sylvania Area Family Services changed its name from the Huntington Farms Community Center and held its first community awards dinner to help raise money for the center.
Family and co-workers said she dedicated her life to working in nonprofits and assisting people who needed help most.
She worked for the March of Dimes and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, said her daughter, Lisa Brock.
"The Sylvania Area Family Services was an opportunity she found out about through a friend and she really turned the whole center around. The thing I want to convey the most is how important she was to everyone around here. She changed more lives than I think she realized."
Jason Robertson said he was the first person Mrs. Baidel hired when she began with Sylvania Area Family Services in 2003. He said working with her was more like working with family.
"In terms of her being our boss, it goes way beyond that," Mr. Robertson said. "I consider her to be family, and she was just a wonderful asset to the community and to this organization."
Mr. Robertson said Ms. Baidel started the youth diversion program with the help of Sylvania police, Lucas County Juvenile Court, and other agencies.
He and Ms. Brock said Mrs. Baidel received fulfillment by reaching out to troubled youth. Mr. Robertson said the diversion program has helped nearly 200 youth since it started in 2006.
"[Mrs. Baidel] put her heart and soul into that program and it was her baby," Mr. Robertson said. "She was the program. She was the reason why the program existed. She helped write the grants and did everything that involved the program."
Ms. Brock said her mother look upon every teenager in the program as important, and no case carried more weight than any other.
Mrs. Baidel had a passion for the outdoors and gardens, Ms. Brock said. She said her mother took great pride in her own backyard garden, complete with a waterfall.
"Gardening was one of her major passions," Ms. Brock said.
Surviving are her husband, Tim; daughter, Lisa Brock; son, Rob Brock; brother, James Wery, and a grandson.
A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the Sylvania Area Family Services building, 5440 Marshall Rd. Arrangements are being handled by the Ansberg-West Funeral Home. Permanent Link
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