Michael Ochsner passed to heaven on May 18, 2025 at the young age of 17. Michael was born Sept. 29, 2007 in Santa Barbara to parents Sharon and Andrew Ochsner.
He completed a family that already consisted of two brothers Drew and Christopher. As you could expect, this was a busy household!
Michael attended St. Raphael School, where he formed many deep and long-lasting friendships. These years set the foundation for what was to become a compassionate and caring young man.
He later attended the Engineering Academy at Dos Pueblos High School where he was an exceptional student and volunteered as a tutor for fellow students. Following his passion to run, he was a member of both the cross country and track teams. Michael loved DP.
Michael had the most amazing personality. He was quiet but very confident and strong. He was not a follower, and didn't need validation from others on his directions.
He wasn't a big talker, but he was a deep thinker. He loved to read and went through advanced novels at a very young age. He was a Rubik's Cube wiz and could solve the most complex cubes so fast you couldn't see his fingers as they spun the cube.
Michael was a great athlete. As a young boy, he loved to play baseball. Known as "Mikey O," he was a member of the Goleta Valley South Little League All Star team for three years. He was an extremely proud All Star!
These were some of the best times of his short life. His baseball family was and still is a tight-knit group.
Michael loved the outdoors. He was a runner from the day he could walk, a backpacker, a skier and snowboarder, a trail runner and a golfer. In fact, he even had a hole-in-one at Twin Lakes, which was the highlight of his golf career!
Michael touched many lives in many places. But what was most amazing was not the amount, but the depth of his relationships.
He could claim multiple circles of very close friends, leaving a bigger footprint in this world than most people who live to be 100.
Michael was excited for his life that lay ahead. He was visiting colleges and wanted to go out of state to experience a new place.
He was planning on getting his Emergency Medical Technician certificate next fall, and had dreams of a career in firefighting, like his brother Drew.
Michael was heading to Bend, Oregon, next month for a fire camp where he was to spend the week with Drew. He was training for a Half Ironman in December with his brother Christopher.
Michael had just become a lifeguard, finishing his training just an hour before his passing and was looking forward to working the beaches this summer. He was a busy kid with the wind at his back.
Michael is survived by a very large and close family, including his parents Andrew and Sharon (Sam) Ochsner; brothers Drew Ochsner, Christopher Ochsner; grandmothers Kay Mullin, Kay Ochsner; aunts Karen Mullin, Kathy Parker, Elizabeth Ochsner, Eileen Ochsner; Uncles Tom (Tee) Ochsner, Jacob (Jack) Tauber; and cousins Katie McDonald, Amanda White, Olivia Swift, Alyx Tauber, Lauryn Tauber, Natalie Ochsner, Thomas Ochsner and James Ochsner.
Funeral service is 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 28 at St. Raphael Church in Goleta. All are welcome.