S. James Baum, M.D., age 91 of Fairfield, CT, passed away peacefully at his home with his loving family by his side. Born in Bridgeport, CT, he was the eldest son of the late Samuel and Sadye Baum. Married 62 years, Dr. Baum was the devoted and beloved husband of Edie Baum. He was a very proud father of his children and grandchildren including Michael Baum, his wife Vera and children Kim and Matthew of Los Altos, CA; Stephen Baum of NYC and his children Jocey, Jordan and Maria; Jamie Baum and her husband Jeff Hirshfield of NYC. Other survivors include sisters Gloria Wank and her husband Gerald of Great Neck, NY and Bette Lee Stern and her husband Aaron of Greenwich. He was predeceased by his brother Gerald Baum and his wife Louise of Fairfield. A well respected physician, Dr. Baum was Chief of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at Park City Hospital from 1954 to 1991 and served as president of the Medical Staff from 1972 to 1974. His private practice was located in Fairfield. Dr. Baum was a graduate of the University of Vermont Medical School, served his internship at Bellevue Hospital and his residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital. He served in the U.S. Navy as the Assistant Chief of ENT at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bremerton, Washington.Dr. Baum was an active member of his community. He enjoyed reading weekly to 3rd and 4th grade students through the School Volunteer Association of Bridgeport for over 18 years and loved teaching children words and how to use the dictionary. He was a long standing member and former president of the Fairfield Beach Resident's Association, and served as a Commissioner of the Town of Fairfield's Shellfish Commission and also the Flood and Erosion Commission.Dr. Baum had an endless passion for reading, particularly evolutionary biology and natural history. His zest for life, contagious sense of humor and never ending curiosity for all things earned him many loyal and life-long friends. He was an honorary Life Member of Birchwood Country Club in Westport where he was an avid golfer. Funeral services will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 1:30 pm at Congregation B'nai Israel, 2710 Park Avenue in Bridgeport. Expressions of sympathy in Dr. Baum's memory may be made to The School Volunteer Association of Bridgeport, 900 Boston Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06610 or the University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT.