A 27-year-old Santa Cruz’s East Side Jacob Lee Guest, affectionately known as Jake Guest, passed away unexpectedly on March 10, 2025.
Jacob Lee Guest is survived by his mother, Karen Deane Guest, his brother Nicholas, affectionately known as Nick Guest, and his wife Catherine Guest.
The 27-year-old Jacob Lee Guest was preceded in demise by his father Tim Guest, who passed away succumbing to the injuries sustained in a car accident.
In addition to his father, Jake was preceded in demise by his grandparents Don and Doreen Guest, Lee and Dorothy Deane, his close friend Alan Rafalski, and his loyal dog, Riley.
Jacob Lee Guest’s mother, Karen, took to her Facebook to write an eulogy, which reads:
I am deeply saddened and heartbroken to share that my beloved son, Jake, passed away on March 10, 2025. Forever missed, he’ll be remembered for his humor, big heart and compassionate soul.
Karen Deane Guest
According to her post, a celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Santa Cruz Memorial Oakwood Crystal Chapel, located at 3301 Paul Sweet Road, Santa Cruz.
Jacob Lee Guest’s father, Tim, was a cancer survivor; he had survived Hodgkin’s Lymphoma six years before his passing.
Similarly, originally from Ventura, California, Karen also disclosed her diagnosis with Paget’s disease, a rare form of cancer almost combined with Breast Cancer, in September 2022.
Portland State University graduate Nicholas Guest, Jacob’s brother, is grieving the loss and has yet to break the silence surrounding his tragic passing.
Meanwhile, we offer our deepest condolences to Jacob Lee Guest’s mother, Karen, brother, Nicholas, sister-in-law, Catherine, and his extended family.
Jacob Lee Guest Had a Dream of Being a Firefighter!
Born on September 3, 1997, in Santa Cruz, Jake had a thing for sports. He excelled in golf, lacrosse, ice hockey, and snowboarding.
He was loyal to Bay Area professional teams like the Warriors, 49ers, Giants, and Sharks; hence, anyone spotting him at watch parties and games wasn’t surprising.
In addition to his love for his coastal hometown, Jake Guest also loved nature, especially mountains. He spent countless days at Santa Cruz’s iconic beaches, Santa Mo’s, 26th Avenue, and Pleasure Point.
His love for outdoor adventures and nature ignited from his family vacation at their Pinecrest cabin, trips to Lake Tahoe, annual visits to Catalina, and outings with a close-knit family.
Recently, Jake had joined Cabrillo College to pursue his lifelong dream of moving to Lake Tahoe and becoming a firefighter.
Jacob Lee Guest was a one-of-a-kind individual who made everyone feel at home.
We extend our deepest condolences to Jacob’s family during this time of significant loss.
