Henry Haefner, a baker and avid pigeon racer, passed away at BWMC on Saturday, June 24, 2017. He was 85 years old.

Henry was born in Baltimore and was raised on Oliver Street where his family owned a bakery. This background and his creativity and persistence led to a long, successful career in baking starting at Virginia Dare when he was just 14 years old. After his training at Virginia Dare, Henry served in the Army in the early 1950s and was transferred to serve as a cook after he won a cake baking and decorating competition against 200 other men. Five months after he was honorably discharged, Henry opened and managed the Binghamton, NY store for Federal Bake Shops. It was his idea to give a free meltaway bun with every purchase of $1 or more and 500 were depleted 3 hours before the store closed, resulting in an opening day sales record of $1006.12 in 1955! He took his expertise and ability to increase baked goods sales to other bakeries which included Bridgeway Bakery in Riviera Beach, and Lauer's Super Thrift & Bakery in Pasadena, MD. Although he retired from his baking career in the 1990s, Henry continued baking throughout his life. Henry also drove a transit bus for Baltimore City for several years where he found his heart dog, Ponca, when an abandoned German Shepherd puppy climbed on his bus on Ponca Street and settled under his driver's seat.

While baking was his calling and profession, pigeon racing was his passion. Once Henry received his first pair of pigeons from his mother when he was 14, he was hooked. Henry partnered with other flyers in the Hamilton  Homing Pigeon and Baltimore Pigeon Fancier's Clubs and offered his expertise for many years. His attention to detail, familiarity with the birds, and love of the process led to breeding many winners. He made many lasting friendships with other pigeon flyers and treated his family to stories about climbing on rooftops to catch birds and the characteristics that made winning birds so special. Henry also enjoyed his surroundings and made many friends in the last 6 years at Parkview Apartments in Severna Park.

He will be sorely missed by his sister Emma, cousin Richard, nieces Rosemary and Maria, nephews Willie and Eric, and 11 grand nieces and nephews and their families.

Friends may visit on Sunday July 2, 2017 from 2-4 p.m. & 6-8 p.m. at the Barranco & Sons, P.A Severna Park Funeral Home 495 Ritchie Hwy. Severna Park, MD 21146. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Monday July 3, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the St. John Roman Catholic Church 689 Ritchie Hwy. Severna Park, MD 21146. Interment in Meadowridge cemetery.