Arthur "Art" Craig Bayer

Arthur Craig Bayer

 Arthur Craig Bayer, 78, died peacefully on July 15, 2024, at The Retreat Hospice in Mobile, AL. Art was born April 5, 1946, in Brooklyn, NY, to Joseph William Bayer and Henrietta (Cetto) Bayer. Art grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in 1963.

  Art attended Manhattan College where he earned a BS in Organic Chemistry in 1967. Art furthered his education at the University of Buffalo graduating with a PhD in 1972. He continued his education with a postdoctoral at the University of Oregon.

  He accepted a position as an Organic Research Chemist at Hooker Chemical, Grand Island, NY in 1974. He “connected” with his wife, Barbara, at the Buffalo Airport during a snowstorm in early April 1975. They were married in 1976. 

  In June 1978, we relocated to Yorktown Heights, NY where he was employed by Stauffer Chemical in Dobbs Ferry, NY. He received his first patent there, the first of many. Our son, Craig, was born in 1980 and our daughter, Jessica in 1982.

  There were several more moves due to downsizing and layoffs. When Art talked about organic chemistry research his face lit up, and you could hear the excitement in his voice. He looked at each move as an adventure. In 1984 Art became the Director of Research & Development at First Chemical, Pascagoula, MS. We lived in Ocean Springs which was a delightful town on the Mississippi Sound. 

 Then in 1988, Art accepted a position as Senior Group Leader at Ciba-Geigy in St. Gabriel, LA. We lived in Baton Rouge. Working at the same plant, the names changed (Ciba, Novartis, Syngenta), but not the location. In 2003, the research department was closed, and we relocated to Fairhope, AL. Art worked at the Cold Creek plant. Seven months later, the company announced they were closing the plant. 

 During his career, Art was active in his communities. He was Chairman of the American Chemical Society in Westchester County, NY; Baton Rouge, LA; and Mobile, AL. At St. Gabriel, he was on the Chemistry Demonstrations team and traveled to schools, fairs and was on TV several times. He even dressed up as Gabe the Alligator, which was a full costume, head included. He was a leader in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. After retirement, he was a counselor at SCORE in Mobile.

  He began sailing while in Buffalo. He crewed on a 25 ft sailboat on Lake Ontario. Then he bought a 14 ft day sailor which he also sailed on Lake Ontario. The boats got larger, but the places changed. He sailed and raced on the Hudson River, Mississippi Sound, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Pontchartrain and Mobile Bay. We also sailed on an America’s Cup trial sailboat out of Lahaina, Hawaii. We then became passengers on Star Clipper ships in Europe. Our longest journey was from Lisbon, Portugal to Athens, Greece; 2500 miles. Two of our journeys included are son, and then son, daughter and son-in-law.

  Art’s other passion was photography. It started in high school when he developed his own film. He joined The Camera South Club in Mobile and entered his photographs in shows, winning many awards. He became an artist at the Eastern Shore Art Center, displaying his work at shows and in the Members’ Art Gallery. He also displayed in Art & About showing his work in banks, restaurants, offices, Grand Hotel, etc. In the 2015 Member’s Juried Show, he won Best of Show. With this award, he was able to have a show of his own in 2016. What a highlight for him. 

  Art is survived by his wife, Barbara, his son Craig (Meredith) of DC and daughter Jessica (Christopher), grandchildren Charlie and Jack of Annapolis, MD; his sister Helen (Michael), niece Sarah (Robert), nephews David (Josephine) and Stephen and sister-in-law Phyllis (James). His sister Nancy preceded him in death.

  A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church, 860 N. Section Street, Fairhope, AL, on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 10:30 am. Final resting place will be in the Memorial Gardens at St. James Episcopal Church.

  Memorial contributions may be made to St. James Episcopal Church, the Eastern Shore Art Center or to Theatre 98, all of Fairhope.

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