06/04/2026
John Denis de la Ronde Baquié
In Loving Memory ofJohn Denis de la Ronde BaquiéFebruary 7, 1935 - June 3, 2026
Funeral Mass at 11am ET on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament at
5949 Western Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015. Church parking lot or street parking.
Those who wish to participate remotely may request a live-stream link from the family.
BAQUIÉ, JOHN DENIS DE LA RONDE, known to family and friends as “Ronde,” died peacefully surrounded by family at home in Bethesda, MD on June 3, 2026, at the age of 91.
Born in Dallas, TX, on February 7, 1935, to J. Gordon Baquié (1901–2003) and Marguerite Montgomery Baquié (1903–1977), Ronde was raised briefly in New Orleans, LA and then Louisville, KY. He was the devoted brother of Julie B. Morton (1933–2024) and Morel B. Jones (1930–2021), remaining close to both throughout their lives and cherishing those relationships until the end.
Ronde attended The Ballard School in Louisville, spent summers at the family farm in Minnesota and at Camp Pasquaney on Newfound Lake, NH, graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, in 1953, and went on to Princeton University. There he was a member of Cottage Club, served as a Private First Class in Princeton’s Reserve ROTC Unit, and graduated cm laude with military honors in 1957.
Following graduation, Ronde served in Korea as Company Commander of Medical B Ambulatory Unit, 7th Medical Battalion, 7th Division (1957–1959). After a brief tour of Europe, he returned to the US and soon entered Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, where he graduated summa cm laude in 1961.
Ronde began his career with Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, later served as an executive at Velcro, Inc., and eventually founded his own management consulting firm through which he pursued a variety of entrepreneurial opportunities over the years.
Together with his beloved wife, Nancy Joyce Baquié (1938–2006), of 42 years, Ronde raised their children in Fairfield, CT, where he taught them the values of hard work, stewardship, and self-reliance while caring for and restoring their centuries-old home and property. New Orleans and Louisville remained close to his heart, and he shared traditions through family recipes, stories, and a deep appreciation for family history. In 1987, the family moved to New Haven, CT where Ronde joined Nancy in helping to restore and preserve the historic Wooster Square neighborhood. In 2002, they moved to Bethesda, MD, where they enjoyed family, church, community service, and a growing number of grandchildren.
Ronde’s faith guided his life and found expression in both church involvement and service to others. He served on the boards of the Bridgeport YMCA and Camp Hi-Rock for more than twenty years, was an active parishioner and committee member in CT and in MD at The Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament for many years, and served as board member and Head Cook for Peace Meal Ministries in Washington, D.C. for a decade, retiring at age 82.Driven by intellectual curiosity through his final days, Ronde was a lifelong learner, avid reader, and student of history. He loved books, classical music, the arts, antiques, fine design, planes, trains, automobiles, and military history.
A man of deep integrity, quiet dignity, and generous spirit, Ronde embodied the virtues of an earlier generation. Raised to value duty, responsibility, and principled conduct above all else, he carried those ideals throughout his life. Yet beneath his reserved, quiet manner was a kind and caring heart, a wonderful wit and a genuine interest in others. Ronde was a true gentleman — both in manners as well as the respect, encouragement, and consideration he extended to everyone around him.
Though accomplished in many pursuits like a true Renaissance man is — at once a scholar, athlete, fisherman, huntsman, boatsman, gardener, cook, mechanic, handyman, historic preservationist, and devoted do-it-yourselfer — Ronde approached life with responsibility, devotion to family, and unwavering integrity, finding satisfaction not in recognition or material goods, but in work well done, commitments honored, and relationships faithfully maintained.
One of the great blessings of his life was important friendships, several dating back to childhood. Across the years and miles, Ronde valued these friendships and, in his final weeks, was still speaking with these friends and reminiscing with enduring affection and laughter. Family and friends will remember not only his warm smile and gentle sense of humor, but also the genuine interest he took in others. Whether speaking with a lifelong friend, a nephew, a neighbor, or a stranger, he had a special way of making people feel seen, valued, and important. He delighted in brightening someone’s day with a simple joke, a thoughtful question, or an encouraging word, and people invariably left his company feeling better for having spent time with him.
Though proud of his accomplishments, Ronde took the greatest joy in his family, friendships, faith, and a lifetime of service to others. Above all, he was kind, gracious, good-humored, and deeply devoted to those he loved — especially his beloved Nancy, whom he missed every day for the twenty years.
Ronde is survived by his cherished children and their families, beloved nieces and nephews and their families, and treasured grandchildren, who were among the greatest joys of his life.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, June 17 at 11am ET at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, DC. Interment will take place at St. Louis Cemetery No. III in New Orleans. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Peace Meal Ministries of DC, or the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament of DC.
Care Entrusted to Thibadeau Mortuary124 E. Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-5009301-495-4950www.InterFaithFunerals.com
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