Aaron Cole

Aaron Cole was born in Santa Cruz on December 20, 1980, and died unexpectedly on August 26, 2023, doing what he loved most, riding his bike joyfully through the forest trails in Wilder Ranch and UCSC.Aaron left behind his beloved wife and best friend, Kelli Cole, and their two incredible sons, Oliver (11) and Wesley (9) Cole. He is also survived by his parents, Doug and Sharon Cole, his brother, Colin Cole, and many extended family members, including his dad's wife, Betsy Bowerman, and her two daughters, Madeline and Rebecca Woodward. Aaron was a beloved cousin, uncle, nephew and friend to many, and a gift to the Santa Cruz community.Aaron grew up in La Selva Beach, and graduated from Aptos High in 1999. Upon graduating, he spent time living the dream, working in Tahoe in the ski & snowboard industry. When Aaron decided to return to school, he threw his heart into his studies, graduating Summa cum Laude from UCSC in 2010, later receiving his M.A. in Geography in 2017.Aaron was passionate about many things, first and foremost being an adoring and devoted father and husband, followed by mountain biking, music, and finding human and environmentally thoughtful solutions in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) industry.Aaron was recognized in the GIS industry with many awards and accolades, and included in many publications. While he was devoted to his work, he also felt it was important to contribute to his community. He was a huge proponent of the Greenway initiative and he spent countless hours working on and advocating for this environmental, community forward-thinking project.Aaron was a humble, kind, larger-than-life light that filled any room he walked into with his booming voice and energetic presence. He was disarming, and shared his faults, told jokes, and always made sure that even the shyest person in the room was seen. He was incredibly intelligent, witty, and sarcastic. He would take the time to stop and talk to all, leaving everyone feeling acknowledged and heard.Aaron believed that each day was a gift, and he worked endlessly to improve himself, and to get outdoors and enjoy life to the fullest, encouraging others to do the same.Aaron's authenticity and unabashed love for life and the people he cared about will never be forgotten, as he lives on in all the hearts of those who knew and loved him.A celebration of life will take place in the coming months. Date and details to come.