Memoir

Remembering Corey

Corey Baron, 28, of Seattle, Washington, passed away on February 2, 2024, after being randomly shot while driving through Seattle the previous Sunday night. Corey was born on November 28, 1995, to Ben Baron and Christine Lenick in Reston, Virginia. In 1999, the family moved to Evergreen, Colorado. Corey grew up loving the outdoors and mountains, and the world of books, games, and ideas. An academic star from a young age, Corey graduated from the IB Program at Lakewood, High School in 2013, whereupon he was awarded Colorado’s highly prestigious Boettcher Scholarship. Two of Corey’s most noteworthy activities at Lakewood were Mock Trial and Ultimate Frisbee. Corey excelled at both, earning accolades and making friends, but most importantly to him, having fun. Corey next attended Colorado College, where he majored in Philosophy and minored in Spanish. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa but was equally proud of his non-academic endeavors, notably as a member of CC’s Honor Council, helping other students while working at the Writing Center, and continuing to play Ultimate Frisbee. A particular highlight was their team qualifying for Nationals during two of Corey’s four college years. Other meaningful activities included a semester in Peru and a summer in Paonia working on an organic farm. After graduating college in 2017, Corey enjoyed a two-year position as a fellow at the El Pomar Foundation in Colorado Springs. During this period Corey honed his skills in and commitment to non-profit management. It was during this period that Corey began dating Natasha, the love of his life. Corey’s next stop was the Yale School of Management, where he earned his MBA. Despite the challenge of attending school during the pandemic, Corey graduated with honors. Following graduation from Yale in 2021, Corey and Natasha moved to Seattle. Corey accepted a position with Joule Growth Partners, which provides financial leadership and consulting for social sector organizations, helping them maximize their impact. Corey was employed by Joule at the time of his death. No list of achievements, however long and impressive, can capture Corey’s true essence. He was smart, kind, thoughtful, intentional, curious, playful, silly, joyful, and wise beyond his years. His life should not be measured in years but rather in the number of lives he impacted. In that regard, Corey lived a very full life, indeed. Corey’s final four days exemplified what made him unique. After being shot and brought to Harborview Medical Center, doctors determined he was unlikely to regain consciousness, let alone ever again be able to breathe on his own or have any use of his limbs. Miraculously, he regained consciousness on Monday. His fiancé Natasha, mom Chris, father Ben, brother Tyler and Tyler’s fiancé Jordan, were able to spend a very special four days with him.  Corey’s brain was completely intact. He was able to spell words by blinking and moving his eyes up and down, and express joy via a twinkle in his eye and an occasional smile. The first words he spelled out were “Thank You” to his team of doctors and nurses. The family sang to him, played songs by the hour, and shared joyful memories. Consistent with his wish not to be kept alive by artificial means and steadfast in his commitment to donate his organs, Corey passed away peacefully shortly before 1:00 am on February 2. Given the quality of life he would have faced, Corey made the right decision for himself. Until the very end he was putting others first, telling his family that he loved them and encouraging them to live their lives fully. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the following organizations in Corey’s memory. Each of these organizations aligns deeply with Corey’s priorities, and he confirmed his wishes in his final days: • Inside Out Youth Services (supporting LGBTQ youth in Colorado Springs) • New Roots Institute (empowering youth advocacy to end factory farming) • Team Read (reading and workforce development in Seattle) If I Could Give You Wings The beating heart, the cold machines The sterile floors all freshly cleaned The emerald moon and crystal sea I wished that I could give you wings The breath of life behind your eyes If I could I'd give you mine You couldn't walk but you could fly We'd never have to say goodbye I'd pull the bullet from your wound We'd leave the ghosts that haunt this room I'd hold the seconds, count the smiles We would sit and talk a while You'd sing your song into the breeze Take them back, your broken dreams Renewed like you had just begun and bathed in golden rays of sun If instead you have to go I know that somewhere up the road You'll be the hummingbird, the crow And you will stay forever gold You'll paint the sunset on the sky You'll bring the weary stars to shine You'll grow into the wishing tree And fill the rivers that run dry It's alright for this to sting The tearing thread, the snapping string The pain it's caused, the peace it brings Go on now, and get your wings