Remembering Dick Baker, Part I

"Dick will be greatly missed. I worked with Dick for over 13 years at Op, and he was a great mentor to me. I learned a lot from him and will treasure the good old days at Op and the wonderful ride we were all on. I will always remember him saying to me 'Dibsie...You get it....that's why I like you! You run this showroom like a tight ship! Keep up the good work!' Thanks for the great memories Dick. You will be missed."

Updated with new posts below, Wednesday, 7:15 p.m.

Hope Warschaw, Chair, Board of Trustees, Samuel Hoi, President, Otis College of Art & Design

"Dick was an inspiring force at Otis College of Art and Design - as a Trustee, as a mentor, and as a role model. Dick loved and lived life fully, energizing everyone lucky enough to be in his path. Dick did so much for Otis that it is impossible to list all his contributions.

"Among his most important achievements as a Board leader were his efforts to bring Otis and the Orange County surf industry together, as well as his tireless and extraordinary work as chair of the Trustees' Benefit Honorees Recruitment Committee. He remained a most dedicated Otis Trustee to the end. In fact, he called to check on the Otis Scholarship Benefit just a couple of days ago. Grateful as the Otis community is for Dick's support to the College, many of us will remember Dick the most for being such a warm, positive, generous, and visionary friend. Dick believed strongly in the value of an Otis education and our talented students. Otis honors his legacy at the College by graduating artists and designers who enter their respective fields to lead and transform."

Dave Nash, owner, Sun Diego

"I really feel cheated for the time that I would have liked to have spent with Dick but am so grateful for the time that I did have. He was one of the greatest men that I have had the pleasure of meeting. He always had a way of exuding positive energy and I always felt refreshed and inspired after being around him. Dick was never lacking intelligence and wit. If you ever needed advice or help of any kind Dick had his hand in the air seemingly before anything was even said.

"I have always looked forward to going to industry events because you could always count on Dick having some words of wisdom, something inspirational and definitely something to keep the wheels turning.

"Dick was somebody that as sad as we are that he is gone, the way he lived his life, is something to celebrate and he would be extremely upset if we were to dwell on his passing instead of celebrating his life. When we all think about the kind of legacy we would like to leave behind and be remembered by Dick set the goal for which we all should aspire. Our industry lost a great leader and friend."

Drew Kampion, American Editor, The Surfer's Path

"Thoughtful, generous, and wise, sitting down for a chat with Dick Baker was like attending a personal seminar on the art of business, especially the surf business. He was a master of 'the relationship,' and he will live on in the better actions of all of us that he influenced. What a great soul! What a friend to surf culture! What an angel!"

Nancy and Steve Gates, neighbors

"My husband Steve and I are so saddened by the death of Dick, our friend and neighbor. My favorite image of Dick is in his black SUV driving in or out of our neighborhood. He looked so handsome in that black car. He had a great smile and would frequently stop to chat. His ready smile and positive words were always a part of his carstop visits. Many times this past year he was either on his way to chemo or returning home from it. Una and Dick held the neighborhood together with their many parties. Seeing him as the perfect host at their parties while enjoying his guests is another fond memory. To describe Dick you would have to use the words great friend, concerned for others, courageous in the face of adversity, inspirational to many, loving husband and dad and generous to all. We will miss him."

Bernie Baker, director, Vans Triple Crown of Surfing

"A number of years ago Dick brought in 'his' OP to sponsor our Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association and Jack Shipley and I were so blown away by his enthusiasm to get the label's banners and logos up and flying at all of our events. You would have thought he was ready to compete in the senior men's divisions!

"During one of the US Championships at Oceanside we were invited over to his home in San Clemente for dinner. I remember Kathy Phillips of the ESA following me on the freeway to his home and I'm driving blind by cell phone instructions from his wife Una. It was, 'now go left, then take the 3rd right, now follow that road....' kind of thing. We finally pull up to their home and I park right out front, get out of the car and there's Dick on his lanai, looking down at me. He says, 'I don't know how you Hawaii guys do it, I told Una to give you the wrong directions to see how long it would take for you to get here and you beat everyone!' THAT was the Dick Baker I'm gonna miss for the rest of my life. He was always there to help all of us, give us guidance for our association and I could always get a message to him and a return call. I can count on one hand how many bosses will do that."

Josh Billauer, chairman, Life Rolls On Foundation

"Ross Garrett and I had the amazing privilege of spending a few hours with Dick on Monday. While his body was clearly succumbing to the cancer, his mind and spirit were as strong as ever. As those of you who had the chance to interact with Dick over the years, you know his passion for life was unparalleled, his sincerity a breathe of fresh air. For all those who came in contact Dick over their lives, it was truly an honor to call him a friend. On Monday we laughed as he shared a story of his high school age son finally coming to him recently with news of a 'girlfriend.'  Dick told the story, and ended it with an exhaling, 'Thank God!' It was if he was so proud to have been able to share that experience with his son over the last few months. Dick never gave up, in fact just on Monday he was still planning on taking his wife Una to Paris (in the other room she told me the doctor forbade it, but she didn't have the nerve to tell Dick). It was vintage Dick. For his family and friends, knowing he went out with little or no pain, and not a dragged out process is comforting. At least it is for me.

"Rewinding nearly a decade, before the IRS ever heard of Life Rolls On, before we needed a Board of Directors, before there was a formal charity, there was Dick and the Billauer family, strategizing how to turn the concept of Life Rolls On into an inspirational organization that would impact the lives of thousands worldwide. Sure, some things he suggested earlier this decade we still haven't done, but he was so proud of the progress we've made. He was so proud of the Board we've assembled. I often joked with him that the past nine years it seems we've often rehashed what he initially suggested in the beginning, only to have false starts, and start again. But sometime in the past few years, it stuck and Life Rolls On started making significant progress. It was 'Charity 101' as Dick would always say, and we finally got it. Dick was so proud, and I was so thrilled to prove to him that 'we did it.' Dick left us yesterday knowing we 'were doing it' and the direction of the organization was in clear focus. Dick is one of Life Rolls On's 'founding fathers,'  and his spirit has always, and always will be at the core of Life Rolls On.

"The hardest part leaving Dick's side on Monday was knowing that I might never get the chance to hear his comforting voice again, to see him, or to rub his ultra-soft tennis ball spiked grey hair - it was so soft, it was amazing! Most importantly, the hardest part is knowing he wore shoes that are impossible to be filled - as a father, a husband, a son, a member of society and the surfing community. Dick is one of a kind, and it was truly an honor to have him in my (our) lives."