Albert V. Baez | Physicist, singers' father, 94

Albert V. Baez, 94, father of folksingers Joan Baez and the late Mimi Farina, died Tuesday of natural causes at an elder-care facility in Redwood City, Calif.

Born in Puebla, Mexico, and reared in New York City, Dr. Baez was a distinguished academic with a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Drew University, a master's in math from Syracuse University, and a doctorate in physics from Stanford University. He taught physics at several universities, including Stanford.

In 1951, he worked for the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, moving with his family to Iraq, where he directed the UNESCO mission there and worked as a professor of physics at Baghdad University.

A Quaker, Dr. Baez was an active supporter of Bread & Roses, a nonprofit that brings free live entertainment to hospitals, youth facilities, prisons and other institutions. It was founded by Farina, who died of cancer in 2001. - AP