Honoring Donald Baker: CAPLA’s 2026 Alumnus of the Year
CAPLA posthumously celebrated Donald Baker, MRED '14, as the 2026 Alumnus of the Year during a university-wide celebration in February.
Chris Richards/University of Arizona
The College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) has posthumously named Donald Baker, MRED ’14, its 2026 Alumnus of the Year, honoring a visionary developer whose influence on Southern Arizona and the university community continues to resonate long after his passing.
For more than 30 years, Baker was a defining figure in the region’s commercial landscape, developing more than 2.2 million square feet of space valued at over $300 million. In 1994, he co-founded Larsen Baker LLC, guiding a portfolio of 48 properties and more than 350 tenants. His colleagues and partners regarded him as a leader of uncommon integrity, fervent passion, generosity, and collaborative spirit.
For his family, the University of Arizona and CAPLA’s recognition affirms the legacy he worked so hard to build.
“This acknowledgment means a great deal to our family and the Larsen Baker team,” his daughter Lindsey Baker shared. “My dad believed deeply in education, community, and building things that lasted, not just buildings, but relationships and opportunities for others.”
From left, University of Arizona Foundation President & CEO John-Paul Roczniak, U of A Provost Patricia Prelock, Lindsey Baker, and CAPLA Dean Nancy Pollock-Ellwand.
She added: “Seeing him recognized by CAPLA and UA is especially meaningful, as last month marked ten years since he and Dawn passed.”
Donald Baker and his wife, Dawn Hunter-Baker, died in an airplane accident in 2016.
Baker had a strong connection to CAPLA. As one of the first graduates of the college’s Master of Real Estate Development, he championed the program and was an enthusiastic and involved alum.
CAPLA Dean Nancy Pollock-Ellwand said faculty admired his curiosity and commitment to continuous learning.
“Don’s career reflected everything we value at CAPLA: vision, excellence, professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to community,” Pollock-Ellwand said. “His developments supported local businesses, strengthened neighborhoods, and shaped how Tucson’s communities evolved and thrived.”
His involvement with the college extended beyond the classroom. He mentored students, spoke regularly to classes, and helped recruit future developers who shared his belief in building value that lasts.
Don Baker with his two children, Josh and Lindsey.
"My father's legacy continues through the people he mentored, the company he and George built, and the communities he helped shape."
-- Lindsey Baker
Outside his professional achievements, Baker dedicated himself to service, including leading the capital campaign and construction for the Tucson Hebrew Academy and serving on the board and executive committee of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona. These efforts reflected his belief in education, community, and responsibility—principles he lived every day.
“My father's legacy continues through the people he mentored, the company he and George built, and the communities he helped shape,” Lindsey said.
She added that if he were still with us, her father would be excited about the growth of CAPLA’s real estate programs and proud of the impact of its faculty and alumni.
“I think my dad would be humbled, excited, and deeply honored by this recognition from CAPLA and the UA,” she said. “And without question, he’d be enthused about the men’s basketball team’s amazing performance and without a doubt cheering ‘Bear Down’ very loudly at games.”
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