Ian Michael Crain

Ian Michael Crain, 45, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2023. He was born on January 6, 1978, to Linda and Jay Crain. Ian was a proud and loving father to daughters Julia, Sophia, and Elizabeth Crain; a caring brother to Andrew Crain, Devin Crain (Ciara Crain), Tracy Wilson (Bruce Martin) and Alexandra Kapellas (Aaron Kapellas); and loved by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

As a child growing up in Elk Grove, Ian played soccer & baseball, participated in Boy Scouts and was an altar boy. After moving to Carmichael, he joined the Carmichael Beaver’s swim team where he honed his excellent swimming skills to ultimately earn a lifeguard certificate. As a teen, he spent summers working with the Mission Oaks Parks and Recreation District kids’ camps.

Ian dabbled in photography, videography, music and entrepreneurism, but ultimately, his passion was working with special needs children and adults. His empathy, patience and kind heart made him a well-loved instructional assistant at Northridge Elementary School for the past 13 years. He called the children ‘his kids’ and they affectionately called him ‘Mr. Ian’. His calm demeanor in emergent situations helped him to excel in his jobs at an inpatient psychiatric facility and the new 988 suicide hotline. 

Ian was smart, kind, compassionate, generous and above all, had a wonderful sense of humor which made him the center of every family gathering, filling the whole room with laughter. He had a way of making people laugh in every situation with his comedic satire routines. 

Music was a big part of Ian’s life from a young age. He appreciated many diverse genres and loved attending concerts with family and friends. He enjoyed sailing with his dad and collecting his grandfather Doug’s Coast Guard and Longshoreman treasures. He loved barbecuing for his loved ones, Trivia and good movies. The occasional golf outing always ended in some funny stories.

Ian’s favorite things included his children’s photos, his oversized Cape Verdean flag, all of his glasses, watches, shoes and of course his favorite Cape Verdean delights, jagacida (jag) and linguica.

Because of Ian’s warm and charming personality, he was loved by all who crossed paths with him. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him and will remain in our hearts forever.

As a homage to Ian’s love of music, we invite you to wear your favorite band or concert T-shirt to his funeral services which will be held at St. Marys’ Cemetery and Funeral Center, 6509 Fruitridge Rd. Sacramento, CA. 95820 on July 10th. Visitation with family and friends begins at 9am, a memorial mass will follow at 10am with the entombment at 11am. Celebration of life immediately following at Campus Commons Clubhouse 650 Commons Drive, Sacramento, CA 95825.

In Lieu of flowers, please send donations in his name to St. Jude Hospital for Children or Shriner’s Hospital.