David was born on Dec. 5th, 1957 to Dr. Keith and Ellen Baker in Long Beach, Ca.- the third child of 9 and first son. He learned from his parents the importance of family, how to dream and to work hard for those dreams.
His first challenge occurred in 1977 while a missionary, trying to teach in Spanish to the immigrants of Mexico the importance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ while serving in the Texas San Antonio Mission. While overlooking the city of Eagle Pass, TX, he committed to love them and serve them. He succeeded where no one else had. His ability to speak Spanish like a native assisted him here and the rest of his life.
To achieve great things, it is easier with someone by your side to inspire, motivate, and who will jump in when you don’t want to. David was fortunate to have his best friend, lover, and eternal companion to do just that. Leslie and David were married on November 10th, 1979 in the Los Angeles Temple. Their teamwork and chemistry are matchless. They have raised four wonderful children, David Lorden Jr., Eric, Kelly, and Nicholas to each dream big dreams and also the importance of family.
Prior to college, David worked numerous jobs, such as Construction Framer, Accountant, Mortgage Banker and “Disco-Tech” owner. He applied to the Dental School at the University of the Pacific because it was a three-year, year round program rather than the traditional 4 years. David and Leslie worked hard and was the Valedictorian of his 1987 class. He wanted to challenge himself more, so he spent the next five years at the University of Washington in the Oral Maxillofacial Surgery program, spending the last nine months training in the Netherlands.
He opened his first Oral Surgery practice in Lancaster, California then a second office in Tehachapi. Looking to follow his promptings, he moved his family to Las Vegas, NV.
Missing the California beaches and good weather, he moved back to California and settled in Thousand Oaks, joining the practice of Courtyard Facial & Oral Surgery in Camarillo. Looking for more adventures, he then opened the Valencia Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/Implant Center in the Santa Clarita Valley, then another office in Palmdale. He was a very talented surgeon, gave lectures and seminars on his specialty and was a published author in many professional journals.
David’s real talent and passion was in serving, mentoring, and inspiring others, all throughout his life. While still in Residency, he and Leslie invited the future Oral Surgeon, Dr. Angel Esperanza from Spain to live with them for a year, mentoring and teaching him in English and his native language, Spanish. David paid for and took teams of Surgeons to the small villages of Honduras and the hills of Peru as the lead of the Cleft Lip and Palate Team, partnering with the Rotary Club, serving the underprivileged children and inspiring other Doctors to do the same. He was the only Oral Surgeon to repeatedly donate his services at the Eisner Pediatric Medical Center at UCLA. He helped build and maintain an Orphanage in Tijuana, where he and his Baker family spent many Christmas’ giving.
While his profession was very important to him, his most important role was that of being a Husband and Father. For the last seven years, he has also loved being a Grandfather. David Lorden and Becky have Alexis and Blake. Eric and Joanna have Cruise and McLayne. Having family around and doing activities with family was imperative to David. He taught them that if your dreams don’t scare you, you’re not dreaming enough. He loved speed of many kinds. He jumped out of helicopters to experience virgin snow. He loved to fish, and fished all around the world. Surgeon by day, David was an eclectic farmer by night. He harvested avocados, lavender, honey and lavender oil. He loved his John Deere tractor. His legacy will be seen in the lives of his children, his grandchildren and in the lives of the many people he served and inspired the world over.
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