Carlos Baeza

Bergenfield, NJ-It is with deep sadness that the family of Carlos Antonio Baeza announces his sudden passing on July 24, 2020, at his residence in Bergenfield, New Jersey, from complications related to high blood pressure. Carlos was 66 years old.

Carlos was born on April 3, 1954, in Montclair, New Jersey to Alma Louise Brown Baeza and Dr. Marco Antonio Baeza. While an infant, he emigrated with his parents and older brother, Mario, back to Havana, Cuba, where he lived until the age of four. The family returned to the United States (New Jersey) in 1958.

Carlos attended grammar school at Our Lady of the Lake School in Verona, New Jersey, where the family had purchased a home. He graduated from Verona High School, where he was a standout athlete in football and track, and began his career as a professional drummer playing in both R&B and Jazz bands.

Carlos also earned a B.A. in Communications from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. Throughout his college years, he continued to play drums in various, popular music groups using funds earned as a musician to help pay for his college expenses.

In addition to his first love as a musician, Carlos held a number of commercial and retail sales positions, finding his greatest satisfaction as a Certified and Licensed Gemologist, appraising and selling diamonds and precious stones for several, high-end jewelry establishments, including Diamond Wholesalers Incorporated, where he rose to become a top salesman and developed his own lifelong private clients. Prior to Diamond Wholesalers, he worked at Belden Jewelers, where he was promoted to store manager in Long Island, N.Y., and regional stores manager based in Nashua, New Hampshire.

In keeping with his rich family legacy in music, throughout his career in the jewelry industry, Carlos maintained his commitment to music as a professional drummer, writer and composer. He would often schedule vacations to be able to tour with bands and orchestras, such as those accompanying the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Boys Choir of Harlem and the orchestra for the Off-Broadway musical, “Starchild,” performed at Joe Papp’s Public Theater in New York City.

Later in his career, Carlos earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Phoenix and became a devoted middle school teacher in the Bergen and Essex County public school systems. For nearly 15 years, he taught General Science, Math, and Physics, and received special recognition for his innovative teaching methods that connected music and music theory with traditional science, leading to demonstrable improvement in his pupils‘ learning and test scores.

A confirmed bachelor, Carlos was devoted to his family, especially to his brother, Mario, and his extended family, to whom he was affectionately known as “Los” or “Uncle Los”. He is survived by his older brother, Mario Leon Baeza, his aunt, Sister Trinita Baeza, nieces Ariel Cristina Baeza and Jati Mariana Baeza, nephew Miguel Mario Baeza and a host of cousins, including Byron Lewis, William Brown III, Cheryl Noble, and dear lifelong friends, including Wendell Edmonds, and too many more to mention here.

In light of the ongoing pandemic, Carlos’ family will plan a memorial service to take place in New Jersey once the threat to travel and physical gatherings subsides. Those friends who wish to receive notice of the memorial service should leave their contact information at the following e-mail address: [email protected]

In the meantime, please keep our dear Carlos’ spirit alive in your hearts and in your prayers. Arrangements for cremation are entrusted to Neptune Cremation Society, Paramus, NJ.