Brandon Hugh Baker

Brandon was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was a proud graduate of University High School and Louisiana State University. A self-made and successful real estate broker, Brandon founded his own company, Baker Agency Real Estate. He was also an accomplished pilot with a lifelong spirit of curiosity and invention. As a teenager, he designed a Christmas tree watering gadget he called “The Christmas Tree Water So Easy.” Brandon’s mind was always reaching beyond, fascinated by the mysteries of the universe—“dark matter,” “wormholes,” and the “God Particle.” Above all, his greatest passion was weightlifting. Brandon began lifting at age 11 under the legendary Coach Gayle Hatch and went on to become a three-time Junior World Team member, a record-setter, and an Olympic hopeful in 1996. At just 19, a traumatic brain injury cut short his Olympic dreams. Against all odds, he made a miraculous recovery and continued to pursue weightlifting throughout his life, setting personal records and inspiring others with his resilience. Brandon embodied what it means to live life to the fullest—with courage, kindness, and generosity. He touched countless lives through quiet acts of compassion and by always being ready to help those in need. He lived by the Olympic motto, “Citius, Altius, Fortius—Communiter” (“Faster, Higher, Stronger—Together”), a philosophy he passed on to his family and all who knew him. More than his many accomplishments, Brandon’s greatest joy was his family. He was a devoted son, brother, husband, and father. He is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Caroline Imeri Baker; his children, Savanna Leigh Baker and Baron Hugh Baker; his parents, Congressman Richard Hugh Baker and Karen Lee Baker; and his sister, Julie Baker. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Rev. Hugh and Kathlyn Baker, and his maternal grandparents, Thomas and Aletha Carpenter. A visitation will be held Tuesday, October 7, 2025, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 11000 Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, followed by a celebration of Brandon’s life at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Brandon’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the doctors and nurses at Our Lady of the Lake Infusion Center and Our Lady of the Lake Hospital for their compassionate care of Brandon.