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- Traverse City Record-Eagle, Michigan, Thursday, June 14, 2018
Landon Neel Bassett
Landon Neel Bassett, 37 years old, from San Carlos, California, passed away at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 9, 2018, surrounded by family and close friends at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center after a valiant five month struggle with adrenal cancer. He faced his diagnosis like he did all of his life, with strength, realism, and a healthy dose of humor. He truly made us all stronger as we watched him face his biggest challenge.
Landon was born May 7, 1981 in Traverse City to parents, William H. Bassett Jr. and Laurie L. (McVicker) Bassett. Always ahead of his time, he was starting to crawl at 3 months old, walking at 8 months and skiing at 3-1/2 years old. From there his adventures took off!
The son of teachers, Landon grew up camping and traveling the United States, having traveled to 48 states before high school graduation. He loved attending climbing schools and summer ski race camps. Landon was always exploring, very active and just generally curious about what life had to offer. A very smart, capable student who participated on Olympic of the Mind teams, school was simply a means to an end, much to the frustration of his teachers and parents. As a creative child, he would just rather be doing other things. He was able to take many college classes while in high school.
He graduated from Elk Rapids High School in 1999 with honors and participated on the ski and tennis teams. Skiing was one of his greatest passions, and he would ski all day long at a young age without anyone along at his local favorite, Holiday Hills. His parents encouraged him to consider racing. But competition was never his thing, he just skied for fun and the thrill. He did however go on to ski race, starting at age 6 through high school as a member of the Central United Ski Association (Cussa). He was a standout in skiing and led his high school team to the state finals all four years of high school. He was an All State selection his senior year.
Upon graduation, Landon selected the University of Utah, he claimed, because of their excellent business school. But we all knew, he was going to major in extreme skiing, mountain biking and climbing! He joined The Phi - Delta - Theta fraternity (although he was not your typical frat boy) because it consisted of all the best skiers, climbers and bikers. This ended up being a great choice, as he made many quality, lifelong friends.
He graduated from the "U" with a degree in marketing. After graduating from college he was a marketer for Red Bull, of which he was able to supply Olympic athletes with Red Bull during the 2002 Olympics on his campus. He also worked at Wilderness Exchange before landing a job with Factory Labs, a hip marketing firm in Denver. Factory Labs sent him as the representative to California to try and nab The North Face as a client. Landon, with his conviction and confidence, was successful at recruiting TNF. He left an impression with The North Face staff and was asked to return and interview for an open position with 1,000 other applicants. He was hired in 2010, and the rest is history. He moved up quickly and before his death was recently promoted as one of the youngest directors at TNF as the creative director of content, which included all videos, social media, commercials and website. His special love was working with the 50-plus North Face athletes to coordinate extreme expeditions and the filming and production of commercials. These expeditions took Landon to many locales around the world, including the base camp of Mount Everest with the Mayo Clinic to study how high altitude affected climbers. Landon truly lived The North Face motto of "Never Stop Exploring."
Landon challenged himself both physically and intellectually. He conquered 15 of Colorado's peaks by climbing up and skiing down. His CrossFit workouts enabled him to stay reasonably close to many of the professional athletes in skiing, climbing, mountain biking or surfing. Many friends and professionals marveled at his expert skiing ability. His ultimate high was backcountry Snow Cat skiing and heli-skiing multiple times each winter.
Many who knew Landon well said his thinking was like no other person they have ever met. He read voraciously and could debate politics, philosophy, religion, cultural trends or fashion with the "best of them." As an intellectual, Landon loved challenging others to think outside the box and to be honest about what they truly valued instead of following the status quo. When he challenged others to be their best selves, he could be relentless in his approach. He was a true Renaissance Man and always "marched to the beat of a different drum." This uniqueness and unapologetic way of living his life is what endeared him to the many friends who were at his side throughout his last journey.
Another passion of his was anything to do with design, and that led him to become an expert photographer, collector of fine threads and art. He was widely known for his impeccable style and as a "cultured Mountain Man."
His true love was sharing his life with his soul mate, Lindsay "Sweeb" Kennedy. They had an abiding love like no other, while sharing the same interests, zest for life and embracing the California lifestyle. Most weekends they could be found surfing, mountain biking or trail running with their friends. They both loved coming back to the awesomeness of Northern Michigan's summers to hang with his brother, Wes, and parents and to just take in the serenity and beauty of boating on some of the best lakes in the world.
Landon lived more life in 37 years than most do in 90. He was truly one of a kind, a unique personality whose gift to us all was the importance of living life to the fullest as your true authentic self. He certainly embodied that and had no regrets. His impact on so many lives for his strength, intelligence, humor and authenticity will live on forever, and he will be greatly missed by all whose lives were touched by him. His loss is crushing to our family, but we are uplifted by the love and support of extended family, our friends and his wide circle of good friends. Our countless family trips of exploring the country together will be forever etched in our memories. We love you so much, Lanny B., Lan, The Don, for the man you had become and were always so proud of you. We are at peace knowing you lived life exactly how you wanted and on your own terms.
He is survived by the love of his life, Lindsay Kennedy; his parents, Laurie and Bill Bassett; brother, Wesley Bassett (Chelsea), and his great source of pride; his niece, Addy; nephew twins, Cohen and Huxley; his paternal grandfather, William H. Bassett Sr.; maternal grandmother, Louise McVicker; uncles, Jim McVicker (Janet), Scott McVicker (Sherry), Andy McVicker, Max McVicker and Jon Bassett (Cheryl); many cousins; and countless friends who were there with him to the end.
Landon was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Vivian Bassett; maternal grandfather, James McVicker Sr.; and his aunt, Becky (McVicker) Mouch.
Landon has been cremated per his wishes. A celebration of his life will be held in San Carlos, California, on June 23, and in Elk Rapids on Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. at the Elk Rapids Memorial Harbor Pavilion. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to his CaringBridge site which will be forwarded to National Public Radio, Protect our Winters or University of Michigan's Adrenal Cancer Center.
You can learn more about Landon's life through his photography on the Landon Bassett Instagram account.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1981 - 2018 (37 years)