Joseph Stanley Baylis
Sept. 28, 1933-April 1, 2025
Menlo Park, California

Joseph Stanley Baylis passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 1 at his home in Menlo Park, CA. Joe was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1933, the youngest of six children of Francis Ray Baylis and Jessie (Kenny) Baylis. He lived a modest life in his childhood, overcoming persistent health issues in his youth, then becoming president of his high school class in Dexter, Michigan. Joe joined the Army after high school, where he was stationed at the US Army headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany from 1954-56 as a stenographer and clerk typist. He cherished those army memories and his time in Heidelberg all of his life, and he was a proud veteran.

After the Army, Joe enrolled at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, following in the footsteps of his father and many Baylis relatives at U of M. There he joined the Chi Psi fraternity and majored in business. He was a lifelong avid fan of U of M sports and faithfully watched and cheered on the Michigan Wolverines, including making many trips back to Ann Arbor for homecoming football games. Go Blue!

After graduating college in 1960, Joe moved to California to start a career in banking. There he rekindled a friendship with Shirley Sullivan, a fellow Michigan alum who had also moved to San Francisco after graduation. A romance developed, and the two were married in 1963. Shirley and Joe were a loving couple for 61 years of marriage.

Joe worked for 25 years for Crocker National Bank in various branch offices throughout California, first as assistant manager, then branch manager, then vice president. Later in his career he worked at University National Bank in Palo Alto as Senior Vice President in private wealth management. His career allowed Joe and Shirley to live in many beautiful parts of California, including Monterey, Santa Barbara, and Menlo Park-Atherton, as they raised their three children John, Brian, and Sara.

Joe had varied interests and devoted himself to many causes over the years. He was keenly interested in genealogy, and kept meticulous and detailed family records of the Baylis family, the Sullivan family, and extended relatives. He and Shirley played tennis, golf, and were members of the Menlo Circus Club. He cherished his beach house at Pajaro Dunes on Monterey Bay, which he and Shirley owned for 40 years. They loved to entertain friends and family at Pajaro Dunes, hosting the Baylis family Thanksgiving dinner there every year. He and Shirley took many trips together, with their children and in later years with friends, including throughout Europe, Mexico, Egypt and India. Joe regularly volunteered at the Menlo Park Veterans Hospital, transporting and assisting hospitalized veterans. He was a board member for several foundations over the years, including the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, the New England Historical Society, Castilleja School, and the Palo Alto chapter of the American Red Cross.

Joe is survived by his loving wife, Shirley; his son John; his son Brian, daughter-in-law Melissa, and grandsons David and Adam; his daughter Sara Cabral, son-in-law Nigel Cabral, and grandsons Hunter and Grant. Joe was a loving and beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many in the community. Even at 91 years old, he maintained a sharp mind, a humorous spirit, a love for family, and a kind and generous heart. He will be deeply missed.

Tags: veteran, business, public service