Sebastian Maximiliano Santibañez
Date of Birth: April 29, 2004
Sebastian Maximiliano Santibañez was born in Maplewood, Minnesota after three days of labor on April 29, 2004.
He grew up in a close and loving extended family in the Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul. He adored his Nana Margaret, who lived with his family during his early childhood. And he was lucky enough to have his dad, Salvador, as a stay-at-home parent who also helped care for his cousins, Oscar, Ari and their cousin, Madison. Along with Sebastian’s sister, the kids were affectionately known as “the gang of five”.
His love of pumpkin pie, tater tot hotdish, hot sauce, and ice cream was unmatched in a family that has a deep and abiding love of pumpkin pie, tater tot hotdish, hot sauce, and ice cream. Consistently the favorite person of all the family pets (and there were a lot), he always had a dog or cat snuggled up next to him on the sofa while he played video games.
Sebastian attended several schools in Saint Paul and made lasting friendships everywhere he went: The ECSE program at EXPO, Adams Spanish Immersion, Paul Wellstone Elementary Spanish Immersion, Saint Thomas More Catholic School, Open World Learning Community, Central High School, and graduated from Gordon Parks High School in 2023. He enjoyed working as a cook at Allianz Field for the past two years while he focused on writing songs and producing his music.
He had a radiant smile and a hug that you remembered for days. Sebastian was happiest when he was part of a team — the best part was always being with his friends or his cousins. Regardless of how much playing time he got or how long it took to master a skateboard trick, Sebastian was always proud and excited for everyone’s achievements.
There was a side of Sebastian’s life that was full of passionate intensity — whether it was planning to get together with friends, video games, sports, skateboarding, or producing music. When Sebastian cared, he put everything he had into it, and he was loyal to the end.
And there was another side of Sebastian that was uniquely thoughtful, caring and empathetic. Sebastian always sided with the underdog. Always. He had a gift of seeing an unjust situation with clarity and speaking truth to power. A sensitive soul from his earliest years, Sebastian was quick to console a friend, share a sincere apology when he made a mistake, or to simply say that he loved you.
Sebastian was also super, super funny. He could roast you in a heartbeat and have you crying-laughing with his commentary.
Words are difficult to find that describe the grief, confusion, and heartbreak left in the wake of his death. He will be forever missed and always remembered.
Sebastian was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Robert C. Burton and his paternal grandmother, Julia Sánchez Sierra. He leaves behind his parents, Martha Burton (Klaus Unger) and Salvador Santibañez Sánchez (Maria del Pilar de Santos); his sister; his nana, Margaret Burton; and his abuelito, Maximiliano Santibañez Renteria; along with his aunts, DeBora Hurley and Jessica Burton (Eric Reichow) and his cousins, Oscar and Ari.
Memorial Details
A public memorial will be held at The Lowlands (160 Wabasha St S, Saint Paul, MN 55107) on Tuesday, August 6, from 1 PM to 3 PM, with a ceremony beginning at 1:30 PM.
We invite all who knew Sebastian to bring an item to contribute to Sebastian's ofrenda (memorial altar) - this could be a small memento, photo or letter, or anything else that reflects what Sebastian meant to you.
For those who cannot attend, the ceremony will be livestreamed here.
Attire: Come as you are, as Sebastian would have wanted.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Youth Farm, Como Friends, or to the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. Donations made to Como Friends will aid in funding a named Memorial Bench by Como Lake, one of his favorite places. Youth Farm and the Wilder Foundation are organizations meaningful to his family, that provided Sebastian community, connection and support throughout his life.
