I've had the privilege to have been friends with Carlos since we were five years old. We went through thick and thin together even though we were very different. Not too many people who knew us could believe that us opposites could be best friends. During this time we went through many stages that consisted of toys and video games to basketball and sports to girls and finally to music. However, during these stages of his life there were many things about Carlos that never changed. He was a very committed and compasssionate person. Someone that ANYBODY can talk to and feel comfortable around. He always wanted to learn, grow, and better himself in every aspect of life. He always put people ahead of himself and materials. His constant love for his friends, family, and mankind never lessened during his lifetime. Carlos especially had faith and love for religion and God. All of these characteristics showed me the kind of man that Carlos was, and taught me to live my life better. I feel so honored to have known Carlos. I have so many fond memories of Carlos I could write a book about them and not a day goes by where I don't think about him. You are missed but we all know you're in a better place.

Love Always,
Michael Eng


*** Almas Hussain ***

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Baldoceda, Ursula, and Blanca,

Although I was only able to know Carlos for a brief period of time, I must say I was very fortunate to meet an individual as patient and down to earth as him.

I met Carlos when my family and your family went to Iran in the summer of 2001. The trip lasted about 10 days, but it was very memorable and having Carlos there with us made it even more worthwhile. Carlos, my sister, our friend and I talked about so many different things while we were in Iran. Of course, one of our biggest topics was music. I remember our bus was broken down in the middle of some remote village and it was very hot and Carlos was trying to convince us that you could compare the Backstreet Boys to the Beatles! We also mastered the art of crossing the chaotic streets of a foreign country. There are so many memories I have of Carlos, and I guess it's too much to write down.

After parting our separate ways in London, I never saw Carlos after that. I regret not being able to say a more complete goodbye. He was one of the most simple and kind hearted person that I have ever come across. I doubt that I will ever visit Iran again, however, I am glad I got to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity with such a rare person and my memory of this trip will always be deep in my thoughts and heart.

Mr. and Mrs. Baldoceda, Ursula and Blanca, you did an excellent job on raising such a fine individual.

Love,
Almas Hussain


*** Matt Musick ***

Carlos and I were never roommates, never classmates, and never best friends. But carlos and I were "shooting partners" and in that respect, I had an exclusive relationship with him.

A little explanation...I played on the Caltech basketball team with Carlos, and for at least part of the season we were assigned to shoot baskets together during warm-up. This may sound trivial to many, especially to those who know the reputation of Caltech basketball (let's just say we didn't win too many games), but it was important to us. The entire team was a tight-knit group due to our struggles against more skilled opponents, but "shooing partners" shared an even closer bond. And in this respect, Carlos was one of the best I ever had. Even though I was a senior and he was a freshman, we shared many qualities. Both of us were athletic and competitive, each with commitment and hard work ethic. But we were also laid-back and relaxed with the understanding that we were playing basketball to have fun. We joked with our teammates, we laughed when our coach called us the wrong name, and we teased each other on the days we couldn't buy a basket. It was fun at the time and is now a set of treasured memories. And I feel privileged to have had such a unique relationship with Carlos.

I have other memories of Carlos too. The late nights in his room talking about Pearl Jam and Dave, the times at dinner when Carlos decided to act a little crazy, and especially the laughs and smiles that were shared at Crist and Tina's wedding. But my entry is long enough, and this page isn't about me.

Carlos was a special person. He was smart, funny, talented, caring, and pretty much everything else nice you can say about a person. But the best thing about Carlos was how much he cared about his family...and I always had the feeling that he wouuld have invited any of his friends home if they needed a place to go. That is so awesome.

I miss you man.

Love,
Matt


*** Kathy Brantley ***

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Baldoceda, Ursula, and Blanca,

I would like to take a moment to share some of my memories of Carlos with you. My first introduction to Carlos was via a list of freshman living in Fleming House. I was scanning the list of names and suddenly stumbled across "Baldoceda, Carlos 'Dave Matthews'". I remember how he convinced upperclassman to drive him to the guitar store, and how it sometimes seemed as if his guitar was permanently glued to his clothes. We rarely saw him without it.

As we started our college careers, I remember attending an "alley meeting" with Carlos, which meant eating moon pies while choosing a "sport" (usually basketball or roller hockey) to challenge a neighboring hallway in. With Carlos's help, Alley 5 won by a landslide. To this day they still hold the record for "Best String Quartet". :)

Carlos and I "grew up" together in Fleming. We struggled with ACM 95 problem sets, simultaneously gave up on majoring in physics, and became UCCs (upper class counselors) together. He taught me know to play the guitar. Carlos had a natural way of making anyone feel comfortable, and when I wanted to talk to someone to talk to -- about relationships, career changes, photography, music, you name it -- I headed to his always-open door.

One of the best times I got to spend with Carlos was backpacking in Arizona, where we spent three days in Havasu Canyon (a tributary to the Grand Canyon). Carlos had never been backpacking before, but if he was apprehensive about it, he didn't show it. He strapped on a borrowed pack and never looked back. His camping "style" is unlike any I've ever seen before; he is probably the only person in the entire history of Havasu Canyon to carry a tape recorder twenty miles so that he could practice his singing at the campsite!

Carlos also packed in several books, which he shared with me: "The Tao of Pooh" and "The Prayer of Jabez". One of my favorite things about Carlos was his faith. I've talked with a handful of people about religion, but the conversations Carlos and I had stand out as very special. He approached God with the curiosity and open mind of a scientist and the heart of a child. Moreover, he made talking about religion comfortable. We wondered out loud together and I, at least, grew much stronger in my faith because of it. We went to church together. When Carlos got sick, it was often his faith supporting me instead of vice versa.

Your son was a blessing to all those who knew him, and his memory will continue to be a blessing to those of us who miss him. Our thoughts and prayers will be with him and with you.

Love,
Kathy Brantley