Winthrop Baker, 71; Westinghouse TV Executive, Innkeeper

Winthrop “Win” Baker Jr., 71, the former president of the Westinghouse Broadcasting Co. who turned to running elegant, antique-filled bed and breakfasts, died of complications from pulmonary fibrosis June 7 in a Norwalk, Conn., hospital.

Born in Manhattan, Baker grew up in New Orleans and earned a degree in business administration from Louisiana State University. He developed his TV management career at stations in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette, La.; and Peoria, Ill.; and then at Westinghouse Broadcasting Group W stations in Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

He served as president of Westinghouse in New York from 1973 to 1979, a period in which the company was a serious competitor of major networks.

Baker produced, directed and wrote hundreds of programs, and was highly regarded for his management skills. He led development of a morning talk show in Baltimore hosted by a young Oprah Winfrey. Until retiring from television in 1984, he headed a Boston station.

Always fascinated with restoration and antiques, Baker built a second career with his Legendary Inns of Newport in Rhode Island. He became a champion of the art of Beatrice Turner, and in 1989 renovated her Victorian home, Cliffside, as a bed and breakfast, adding the similar Adele Turner Inn in 2001 and the Abigail Stoneman Inn in 2002.