Neil Baker

Neil had a rare gift: he made everyone around him feel truly alive, simply by being present. Born on March 30, 1993, in the seaside town of Newport Beach, he grew up with the ocean at his doorstep and adventure in his blood. For those first 29 years—until a serious medical challenge required hospitalization on September 11, 2022—he lived with a fire most of us only dream of. His final three years were spent fighting bravely, but the Neil we cherish—the one who lit up every room and chased every horizon—was fully present until that September day in 2022. In those 29 vibrant years, he packed in more joy, laughter, and connection than many gather in a lifetime.

From his earliest days, Neil displayed a vibrant personality and a clear love for creative and active pursuits. He started kindergarten full of enthusiasm, though teachers noted his shyness around peers and preference for conversations with adults. He shone in music and art, singing prominently in the Christmas chorus and earning a newspaper photo. His self-portraits were unmistakable, featuring wild, spiky hair reminiscent of Johnny Bravo. He progressed to drumming as the family's musician, mastering percussion on his drum set and later becoming a skilled percussionist who also delighted in beatboxing.

These early sparks of creativity and adventure grew stronger. At six, he adjusted to first grade, experimented with Lionel trains, and cared for his pet rat, Whiskers. By seven, he played neighborhood games, learned tennis, and outraced his dad downhill on a ski trip to Brian Head, Utah. At nine, he starred as an all-star soccer defender, logged hundreds of miles on his bike with the family dog, and pursued mechanical interests. At ten, he became an ace Go-Ped rider—rarely indoors during daylight, a passion for speed and scooters that endured throughout his life.

His teenage years fueled greater thrill-seeking, setting the tone for a life of motion: water skiing at dawn, wakeboarding into sunsets, ski bobbing glassy swells, snow skiing fresh powder. On land, e-Bikes, scooters, and motorcycles carried him along coastal roads; in the air, as a student pilot, he soared with freedom; drones offered new perspectives for photography. Boating and sailing tethered him to the sea he loved, while boat trap shooting with friends became a ritual of skill and camaraderie. He tended his hydroponic gardens, growing fresh produce for legendary barbecues where brisket and tri-tip were cooked to perfection amid laughter. He also engaged deeply in conservative political debates.

Neil chose California State University Channel Islands for college, earning a degree in Business Management. He was elected Student Government Senator in 2013 and Vice President in 2014, advocating earnestly for his peers.

During and after college, he traveled widely—approximately 15+ countries—including a 2013 Mediterranean cruise aboard the Celebrity Silhouette, visiting historic ports in Italy, Malta, Greece, and Turkey. He explored much of Central America, including Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica, where he visited ancient Mayan ruins and experienced the exhilaration of river rafting Honduras's mountain rapids. These journeys immersed him in diverse landscapes, rich cultures, and profound natural beauty. Yet of all his travels, Neil often said the best trip was to the Galápagos Islands, where swimming with sharks, turtles, penguins, and sea lions, observing giant tortoises, and encountering marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies created a timeless, transformative connection to nature—every day unfolding with wonder.

As a young adult, he seized opportunities with entrepreneurial resolve. He founded Ocean Group Rentals LLC, growing it from an internship into a thriving enterprise managing 25 luxury vacation properties in and around Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. As an Airbnb Superhost, he earned hundreds of glowing reviews through exceptional hospitality. He also collected Rolex watches, drawn to their precision and timeless craftsmanship—qualities that mirrored his own approach to life.

His laugh was infectious, his humor kind yet sharp, his loyalty unwavering. He arrived at sunrise with the boat ready, transformed gatherings into celebrations, and insisted on drums because life demanded rhythm.

His farewell will honor this spirit: a Catholic Mass at St. Joachim Church, followed by a waterfront Celebration of Life on Saturday afternoon at the Back Bay Bistro—live music (perhaps a drum solo in his honor), toasts, remembrances, and views of the ocean he cherished. We hope to make it the kind of day Neil lived every day: surrounded by love, filled with music, & free of regrets.

Neil's medical challenges took his body, but they never dimmed his example. He showed us how to squeeze every drop of joy from each day—how to laugh louder, love deeper, chase harder, and never wait for tomorrow. In his too-short time among us, he left a blueprint: live fully, right now, because the moments we have are the only ones that count, and as he recorded in many videos, "¡Vamos aquí!"

So to his friends and family reading this: honor him by doing what he did best. Get on the water, hit the slopes, fire up the grill, call the people you love, turn up the music, and live like every day is the best one yet. That's the legacy he left—not in years, but in the way he made us all feel more alive.