Adrian Ibarra

Adrian was a 29 year-old from San Diego, CA. He graduated from Morse High School in 2010. He was a Morse Tiger Track star; he and his team won numerous 1st Place medals in track competitions. He was, as he would say, “a beast”—unstoppable. Adrian was undeniably a great athlete and a true natural.

Adrian was a very confident child growing up. He was someone his juniors looked up to indefinitely. He was so competitive—a real winner. He was always the guy to beat, but others could rarely manage such a feat.

Adrian loved reggae music, as well as playing football and basketball with his cousins and friends. Above all, he enjoyed spending time with family. Adrian was overjoyed when he became the father to his only daughter, Amor Ibarra, on October 24th, 2019.

Adrian will be forever loved by those he left behind. He is survived by his parents, Gabriel and Sandra Ibarra and his brothers, Felipe, Gabriel Jr., and Luis. Later on in life, he was blessed with his brother and sister, Isaac and Valerie. He also leaves behind step brothers Ernie and Carlos, as well as stepmother, Adriana Martinez. He bids farewell to his many beloved uncles, aunts, cousins, and his grandparents, Alberto and Josefina Granillo, but reserves a special piece of love for his dearest and sweetest daughter Amor.

We will all miss his handsome face, his big beautiful smile, and his loving soul. He brought so much joy to our lives. We were all so proud of him for being the best dad he could be and for being the strong, fun-loving, hard-working man he was.

Adrian, you will be missed and forever in our hearts. Rest in peace, and fly with the angels.

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Eulogy written and presented by Felipe McNeil.

Adrian Ibarra was my brother. Adrian Ibarra is my brother. Always will be. My name is Felipe, Adrian's oldest brother, and the responsibility has been bestowed upon me to eulogize a man that I’ve always admired.

Adrian was born on 12/23/1991. From the very moment took his first breath he brought a light, a certain spark into every room he ever walked into. There is an old saying that says the candle that burns brightest burns half as long. In my heart of hearts I know that saying describes Adrian perfectly. As a child he was the most adventurous, curious, strong willed, loving and fearless spirit. Fearless…. that is the first word that comes to mind when describing Adrian. That quality never left him from his adolescence into his adulthood. There wasn’t a quad he wouldn’t ride, a ramp or cliff he wouldn’t jump, trail he wouldn’t explore nor bone he wasn’t willing to break in the process, and he broke quite a few of his own and others…Fearless.

Adrian was an alpha from birth. His 2nd day of Kindergarten he was suspend for fighting. Years later I asked him if he remembered it and he told me that it was his first week and he had to let them know who ran the class…Fearless.

Adrian was amazing as a younger brother, but he was also a pest, He would follow me around everywhere and wanted to do and get into whatever his big brother was into. He began following and playing sports, loved video games, hip hop just like his big bro. He also loved his Chargers. Hours were spent talking with his brother about our Bolts winning the super bowl one day. I will always regret that we won’t be able to watch them win the super bowl together. But I’m sorry Adrian we probably could have both lived to be 100 and wouldn’t have had the chance to experience that together.

Adrian was the best little brother anyone could have had. But Adrian wasn’t just a younger brother to myself. Adrian and his older brother Gabriel were only 23 months apart. Adrian and Gabriel shared everything growing up, but they were complete opposites. The Yin to the others Yang. Regardless of how different they were they were inseparable. Double trouble, never has there been a more mischievous pair. True partners in crime, tag team Champion of the world when we would set up a make shift wrestling ring in our parents living room. The love and grief they gave each other and myself is a feeling that only brothers can understand. 3 boys 3 completely different personalities but bonded by an unrivaled brotherly love for each other, even if we didn’t always show it in the healthiest way. The way Adrian spoke of how much he loved, cared for and worried about his brother Gabriel was exemplary. He set an example for all of on how to love his older brother Gabriel. Thanks you Adrian for showing me how to be a better to our brother.

Years later Adrian finally got a chance to be a big brother himself. His baby brother Luis became the newest edition to our family around the time Adrian was10 years old. When Adrian found out that he would no longer be the baby he didn’t take too well to it. But once his little brother was born Adrian's entire prospective changed. He became a fierce protector He took the example that I tried to set as an older brother and he did it better than I could do on my best day. He never turned down a chance to toss around the football with his little brother. And Luis soaked it all up. Luis looked up to Adrian like no other. He wanted to be just like Adrian. Adrian was his role model, he was big brother in every sense of the word. One trait that Adrian had that everyone remembers was how competitive he was. As kids he would always try to beat me in anything, he tried to tie his shoes faster, finish his food faster, anything you could think of, but i never let him win. Maybe that was wood for his competitive fire. He wanted to beat not just me but everyone at everything. But with his little brother it was different, he would always let him win. That's what made Adrian a better brother than all of us. He took more joy in Luis feeling like a winner than in winning himself. Even during his last days Luis told me that he had been feeling ill and Adrian on that day was constantly checking on him almost to the point of annoyance. But that’s who Adrian was, making sure everyone was happy was paramount to him. Thank you little brother for showing me how to be a better brother to our baby brother.

Adrian was not only a devoted sibling to his brothers. He was also blessed with his baby sister Valerie. Although Adrian and Valerie had a large gap in age his protection and devotion did not falter. When we found out Valerie was on the way he later told me “Hey Phil, were gonna have a baby sister, that means we get to check some dudes when she gets older” He loved his baby sister and was willing to do anything to protect her, make her smile, and laugh. On the day of his passing one of the possessions the had front and center in his wallet was his baby sisters senior picture. Adrian thank you for teaching all your brother and step brothers how to protect our baby sister.

To his brother Isaac, Adrian had talked to me multiple times about building a better relationship with you since you guys did not have that chance growing up. He spoke of making new memories and was excited by the possibility of having a beer with all of his brothers one day. Adrian had a heart that was full of love and he made sure to make room in it for his brother Isaac. Adrian also had love and adoration for his step brothers Ernie and Carlos. He initially was a reluctant role model but grew to love them both. Ernie, Carlos Adrian was your brother too and he loved you both dearly. Adrian, thank you for showing me how to love the brothers we never expected to have but now couldn’t imagine living without.

As a son Adrian was more than a handful, but he was always a constant source of pride to his parents. Growing up he somehow figured out how to be his fathers shadow and a mamas boy at the same time. Dad, Adrian put you on the highest of pedestals. He always wanted to be around you and make you proud. He loved going with his father to car shows every Sunday, except during football season, sorry dad on those days he was always his big brothers shadow. As children growing up Adrian, Gabriel and I were always fighting for our fathers attention. We all wanted your approval but Adrian was the best at getting it. He was confident, brash and borderline cocky and you loved it. He was everything you wanted your son to be. If Adrian was a character in a video game he would be the created player with all the attributes turned all the way up. The pride that he filled our father with was a sight to behold. It always lit up a room to see how proud Adrian's dad would glow when Adrian would dominate on the track and football field. It was expected that Adrian would win any athletic contest he participated in. Adrian spoiled his Dad with his success in all his athletic endeavors. He always just wanted to make his Dad proud. He loved his father so much and he never hesitated to show it.

As much as Adrian was his fathers pride and joy, he was definitely his mothers heart and soul. A mamas boy from beginning to end as we all are. Adrian and his mother Sandra had a special bond, unique to just them two. Adrian was the most affectionate to his mother out of her four boys. He was the first and fastest to say I love you mom and would say it often. Much like with his father Adrian had a special way of grabbing all of his mothers attention. He spent more time with our mother than any of us. The kind caring soul that Adrian had was absolutely given to him at birth by his mother. During difficult times Adrian and his mother Sandra were always there for each other. Even when they would bicker it would only be a matter of minutes before they made up. Our Dad would like to think that Adrian got his athletic ability from him but in reality he got it from his mama. Adrian always felt safest when wrapped in his mothers love. They always had a different connection apart from the rest of us. They always had there own adventures that we would hear about after the fact. They would randomly go to concerts together, out to eat, weekend getaways. It was as if they had always had a secret or inside joke that only they knew about. They would sneak off to the casino and Adrian would look at his mom and tell her “guilty pleasures mom, guilty pleasures”. He loved his mother more than any son ever loved a mother. Hearing Adrian come through the door and yell out “mama” like he always would always brought a smile to her face without fail. He cared and worried for his mother at all times. He cared about her happiness till the very end. The last word he spoke before his beautiful light was dimmed was of course “mom”. Adrian, don’t worry, Me Nene and Weecho will take care of our mom. Thank you for showing us how to be better sons to our Mommy.

Adrian's reach extended far beyond his siblings and parents. He not only demanded attention from his parents and siblings, he was also front and center as a grandson, nephew and friend. He impossible not to fall in love with. He loved going to his Tata’s house for family gatherings, birthdays, holidays and mostly on random summer days to swim with all his cousins. His younger cousins Luis and Jesse were his road dogs. The Gabriel and Adrian tag team turned into the fantastic four. They did everything together children and that continued into their teenage years and adulthood. They did not grow apart like most cousins do. Adrian would never let that happen. He always made himself available to them at all times, always willing to hang out for an all night gaming session, always willing to meet up for a basketball game. Adrian was the ring leader amongst his cousins. He would always lead them into mischief but also made sure he protected them. No one could mess with little cousins except for him of course. With his younger cousins Chris, Armando and Eric he was the best big cousin. It was always important to him that his little cousins look up to him. He tried to give them every reason to admire him. Every one of his cousins had special memories with Adrian that are unique to just them. Whether it be an all night video game session, random trip to the mall of a secret burn session in Tata’s backyard that no one knew about. Adrian loved making all these memories with his cousins. Adrian was everything a cousin should be. He was their friend, should to cry on, ears to listen, he was also an antagonist, borderline bully sometimes just like we all are to each other at times. Boys being boys is the only way you could describe our tribe of primos. But it was all done with love. If one of his cousins copied a shirt or pair of shoes that he had he would be quick to say “why you trying to be like me? be yourself” but deep down it would make him so happy. Little did he know we all wanted to be like him. Adrian thank you for teaching us how to be better cousins to each other.

Adrian was also a shining light to his Aunts and Uncles. Adrian had love for all of them. Adrian and Gabriel loved dancing and performing for them all at family get togethers whenever asked. As much trouble as Adrian and Gabriel were growing up, our parents never struggled to find a baby sitter. Every one wanted the Ibarra boys to come over just to see what these kids would do or say next. Anytime I run into an aunt or uncle they always feel the need to tell a story about something Adrian and Gabriel did the when they were kids. Please don’t stop reminding us all of how bad they were as kids. That's who Adrian was, he was a force stronger than gravity. He knew how to pull everyone into his orbit. He loved each of his aunts and uncles dearly.

Adrian was a lot of things to a lot of people. He was a devoted son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. But his light never shined brighter than when he found out he was going to become a father. All he ever wanted to do was give his baby girl Amor the world. He was the best father anyone child could hope for. I had had some worries when I heard the news that he was becoming a father. But when I saw the look in his eyes my worries were no more. Once Amor was born I knew my instincts were correct. He was an amazing father in the short time he had with his baby girl. He wanted to spend every waking moment with his daughter and he did just that. He was on the way to being an amazing girl dad. Adrian the way you were with your baby girl was inspiration on how every father should love their daughter. Even in your darkest moments your Amor was what tethered you to this world. Thank you for showing us what a fathers love for his daughter can be. We’re all so proud of the father you were.

Adrian was great at everything he wanted to be great at. If he put his mind to it he was gonna do it, no questions asked. A true force of nature, he was the best of us. He gave us 29 years of beautiful memories and lessons. Adrian was the type of person that wouldn’t go around or over walls; he would go right through them and then come back and lead everyone through the hole he made. He was fearless, he was a superstar. He never backed down. Later in life he was unfortunate to be diagnosed as bipolar schizophrenic. He was not afraid of his condition, he never used it as a crutch. Never used it as an excuse. He truly didn’t understand it. He fought this challenge every minute of every day. There were bad days and then there were worse days but through it all this terrible condition was not enough to keep our superstar dormant. His heart and should would still push through all the time, which made his condition harder for his family to accept. When the strongest one of us all is fighting an invisible enemy we all assumed he win against this ailment because Adrian won at everything. Adrian was so brave during this times. He never stopped being a superstar, he never stopped loving, he never stopped being there for those he loved even when those he loved wouldn’t be there for him and he couldn’t be there for himself.

In closing, I’d like to say a few personal words about my little brother. Adrian loved and lived to be there and protect his family. But it was always my responsibility to protect him. I’m sorry I didn’t do better. You were a handful, you were annoying, you always bugged me, you always stole my stuff you would never leave my room. It was obvious how much you wanted to be just like me. But what I never told you is how much I looked up to you and wanted to be just like you. When life for one of us wasn’t going how we wanted, we would avoid each other because we always wanted to impress each other. We had a hard time being vulnerable with each other. We both shared the burden of high exceptions from our family, that was our cross to bear together. As a brother, Adrian and I were rivals but we were the best kind of rivals. We competed at everything, well at least he competed at everything with me. But we were also each others biggest fans. I loved watching him destroy anyone that lined up against him on the football field and smoke everyone at every track meet. Whenever I would be able to make it to his track meets or football games it would bring me an unequaled sense of pride and love when he would find me in the crowd and give me a point or wink, as if he was saying “hey big bro watch this”. My brother is my hero, and now it’s his turn to protect me.

One of the many things we would bond on and talk about for hours upon hours was music. Especially with lyrics we would talk endlessly about who had the best verse and who had better bars and who was the best rapper. Adrian always try to get me into Rasta but I never took to it. I now look back listen to some of his favorite songs and its as if he’s reaching out and talking to me. He’s giving me a glimpse into his soul.

In eulogizing my little brother I struggled to find the best words to describe my brothers life and bring comfort to all the loved ones we have here today. I thought long and hard about it and realized my brother was telling me what to say the whole time. His favorite song was King without a Crown by Matisyahu. Listening to lyrics I could think of no better way to end this than with words that my brother chose and loved. I’d like to share the first verse, hopefully I don’t slip into a Rastafarian accent.

|You’re all that I have and you’re all that I need

|Each and everyday I pray to get to know you please

|I want to be close to you, yes I’m so hungry

|You’re like water to my soul when it gets thirsty

|You’re the air that I breathe

|Sometimes the world is dark and I just can’t see

|With these demons surround all around to bring me down to negativity

|But I believe, yes I believe, I said I believe

|I’ll stand on my own two feet

|Won’t be down on one knee

|Fight with all of my might to get these demons to flee

|Passion rays / fire blaze / burn bright and I believe

|Out of Darkness comes light, twilight into the heights

|Crown heights burning up all through till twilight

|Said thank you to my God now i finally got it right

|And I’ll fight with all of my soul and all of my might

|What's this feeling

|My Love will rip a hole through the ceiling

|I give myself to you from the essence of my being.

Little brother, thank you for 29 years of the best memories I could ever ask for. I promise to live for you. As long as I have breath in my lungs I promise to never let anyone forget you. I love you Adrian. You’re the big brother now.