Joseph Anthony "Tony" Baden

Joseph Anthony “Tony” Baden, 76, of Hollywood, MD, businessman and farmer, who, for 37 years, owned and operated the St. Mary’s County Rod N’ Reel, Lexington Park, MD, passed away on September 29, 2021 at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond, VA. Known as Anthony to his family and Tony to his customers, he was born in Ireland on March 20, 1945 to the late Joseph H. Baden and the late Bridget Baden. Tony was the loving husband of the late Jennifer “Jenny” Adell Baden. He is survived by two sons, Dean Baden of Leonardtown, MD and Scott Baden of California, MD, three brothers William Baden (Brenda), Eston Baden, Halbert Baden (Gloria), his sister Patricia Baden O’Donnell, two nieces Emily and Katey, six nephews Billy (Anna), Bobby (Hillary), Christopher, Manny, Alex (Christina), and David (Rachel). He is also survived by eight grandnieces and grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Maureen, who passed away as a child, and his nephew, Randy. As a one-year-old, he arrived at Ellis Island in the arms of his mother, an Irish war bride, after WWII. He grew up on a tobacco farm in Baden, Prince George’s County, and was the oldest of six children. He attended Gwynn Park High School and often talked about the encouragement the shop and agriculture teachers gave him. He met his future wife, Jenny, there, took her to the prom, and married her after serving in Germany while in the Army during the Cold War. Tony worked as a sign electrician in PG County, then as an early computer operator with Sperry Univac. He was a successful, innovative farmer, including inventing an automated tractor-mounted tobacco cutter. He owned the Rod N’ Reel where he was both the owner and, because of his personality, was the Rod N’ Reel. Tony enjoyed laughing and joking with his customers. This interaction with his customers was an essential contribution to his being a valued part of the community. Tony was always innovating, trying new ideas and evaluating if still beneficial, including video rentals when popular and pool tables when popular, and was successful in his business ventures, including adding a walk-in beer cooler and laundromat. The family will receive friends on Monday, October 11, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD, where a funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Hollywood Vol. Fire Dept. at P.O. Box 7, Hollywood, MD 20636 or Leonardtown Vol. Fire Dept. at P.O. Box 50 Leonardtown, MD 20650. Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A. & Crematory, Leonardtown, MD.