John Baust

John Baust Obituary “Hamburger...French fries...soda” was the first thing John Baust said when he walked into our group home in White Plains, NY. He used sign language along with his attempt at words. But there was no question about what we were having for lunch on his first day. It was 1979. John was twelve years old and had previously lived in a state institution where an outing often included a trip to McDonald’s! John knew several different signs but made up new ones when needed to get his point across. My family (husband and two children) lived in the group home with John and three other boys from similar circumstances. John’s own signs for my two children were based on the first time I introduced them to him. The sign for my older son, Jeff, became: arm down to the side, hand out, palm down, to signify a little person (Jeff was 3 at the time). My younger son, Joshua, was an infant when they met. I showed him to John by pointing to him in my arms and saying “Joshua.” For the next 40 years John referred to him by pointing to his own arm that pretended to hold a baby and saying “Jet..su..wah.” John enjoyed doing many activities and learned very quickly how to ride a bike, swim, and play basketball. He participated in swimming events through Special Olympics, rode his bike with us on the Bronx River Parkway bike path, and could shoot surprisingly accurate free throws from several feet beyond the foul line without even looking! John liked things in his life to be predictable and to follow an established routine. He loved going to Hershey, PA. We went several times over the years and stayed at The Hotel Hershey. Favorite activities? Indoor pool, whirlpool and eating chocolate!!! We also made trips to Georgia to visit John’s family. They enjoyed being able to spend time with him and also made trips to New York to be with him. John’s loving connection with his mother was expressed by his energy whenever he was around her. Over the years this connection extended to several staff members and friends. AMIC Supportive Families (a branch of AMIC, Inc) is the agency that operates the group homes and other services for folks with developmental disabilities. So many people have loved and cared for John throughout his life, including his family, our staff, and friends. We will miss you so much, John. We love that you were part of our family. Faith Porter

Tributes

John Baust

December 11, 1966 - October 13, 2024