Owen Bailey met Laurie in December 1989 when she was 22 years old and was beginning the MFA theater program at the University of Connecticut. Owen was a senior. Together, they left after a year to work at a small regional theater near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, producing a play each month. It was a bohemian, romantic life filled with creativity, ambition, friendship, and just enough macaroni and cheese to sustain two young actors chasing their dreams.
Their shared passion for storytelling eventually took them to New York City, London, and finally Los Angeles, where Owen discovered his true calling as an environmental advocate. Laurie moved behind the camera and built a career in photography. Together, they raised two children while balancing careers, family, and a shared desire to make a positive impact on the world.
In 2013, Owen accepted the role of executive director of the Environmental Defense Center in Santa Barbara. The family embraced life on the Central Coast, spending weekends exploring Elwood Mesa, hiking local trails, and enjoying the beaches Owen loved. It was a busy, joyful, and deeply fulfilling chapter of their lives…