Nina Baker Neal, an animal welfare activist who rescued stray dogs and cats, dies

Nina Baker Neal, an animal welfare activist who rescued stray dogs and cats, died of complications from primary progressive aphasia Dec. 3 at Brightview Catonsville. The Ellicott City resident was 68.

Born in Baltimore and raised on Gibson Island, she was the daughter of Eleanor Baker Cadwalader, a homemaker, and David B. Baker Jr., an attorney and printing company owner.

“Nina’s childhood was spent on Gibson Island, where she enjoyed exploring on her bike, adventuring the waters on her family’s boat and playing tennis with friends,” said her daughter, Natalie Hazlehurst.

她上了吉布森岛学校，并于1973年毕业于圣保罗女子学校。在高中期间，她与鲁克斯顿（Ruxton）一起搬进去并照顾祖母，并参加了曲棍球，曲棍球和啦啦队。

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She earned a sociology degree at Sweet Briar College and became an activities director at a senior center.

She later joined the Reese Press, the printing company owned by her family. She started in reception and worked her way up to a leading sales position.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she helped reorganize a struggling animal rescue group, the Maryland Anti-Vivisection Society.

“She played a critical role in caring for and rehoming more than 100 rescue dogs and cats and pigeons, too,” her daughter said. “She was always ready to transport in her car and pick up another animal.”

Mrs. Neal often found strays near Kirk Avenue, where the printing firm was located.

“她无所畏惧。她会开车去小巷，以拯救看起来像他们需要一餐的斗牛犬。”她的女儿说。

尼尔夫人成立了一个董事会，并将救援命名为斯奈德动物基金会。

“当我不得不把我的一只边境牧羊犬带到一个好的家中时，妮娜是我打电话的第一个，”朋友Tracie Ruckle Bath说。“当我与妮娜（Nina）一起工作时，她会把狗食放在汽车的后备箱中，如果她看到流浪狗，她会停止交通来营救狗，给他一碗食物。”

2007年，尼尔夫人与巴里·斯蒂芬·尼尔（Barry Stephen Neal）结婚，他们定居在埃利科特市（Ellicott City）。她还度过了一个家庭历史悠久的房屋，名叫Webley的Webley在东海岸附近的Wittman附近的Wittman。

她的丈夫说：“妮娜（Nina）脸上总是微笑，并且总是愿意帮助需要帮助的人。”

A cousin, Caroline Burton of Rochester, New York, said: “Nina was irreplaceable. She was the life of any party and had a sparkle that would light up the room the minute she walked in. She was a natural beauty without even trying and a natural athlete, as well. Her cross-court drive on the tennis court kept her in any tournament. ... She knew how to sail and ride horses, and was a beautiful jumper.”

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尼尔夫人还曾担任美国殖民玛利亚殖民地董事会，第1章担任秘书，是巴尔的摩业余花园俱乐部的活跃成员。

“没有人愿意为董事会会议做时间，但是当我问妮娜时，她以自己的亲切方式站起来，说她会做这份工作，”美国殖民地达米斯的苏珊·萨默维尔·霍斯（Susan Somerville Hawes）说。“您总是可以指望妮娜（Nina）通过她美丽的三明治来参加圣诞节聚会。”

Mrs. Neal was a baker and cooked hors d’oeuvres. She also cultivated vegetables, flowers and fruit trees.

“她的拇指最绿，”她的女儿说。“她可以养育自己的想法，并可以轻松而优雅地创造美丽的花卉布置。”

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Her cousin said: “Nina had a lighthearted zest about her that drew people to her. She was definitely a magnet. She also had just a little bit of a rebellious nature that made going on adventures with her that much more fun.”

A celebration-of-life gathering will be held May 20 at Webley, at 22228 Webley Lane in Wittman.

She is survived by her husband of 15 years, Barry Neal, a retired Social Security Administration technical leader; a daughter, Natalie Hazlehurst of Baltimore; a brother, David Baker III of Baltimore; a stepdaughter, Kira Reisinger of Catonsville; a stepson, Garrett Neal of Ellicott City; and four step-grandchildren.