Suzanne Perkins
A Heartfelt Goodbye to a Legend 
With full hearts and deep gratitude, we say goodbye to our dear friend and mentor, Suzanne Baker Neal Perkins — a woman whose life was nothing short of extraordinary. A true force of nature, Suzanne has lived a life of adventure, elegance, and unwavering excellence.
From flying the skies with Pan Am to the rolling hills of Montecito, Suzanne built a legacy as one of California’s most respected luxury real estate icons—representing over $2 billion in sales and earning the trust of clients around the world. She was also a devoted public servant, a passionate horsewoman, and a mentor to so many of us lucky enough to work alongside her.
Suzanne wasn’t just one of Montecito’s most accomplished real estate professionals — she was the gold standard. A visionary, a trailblazer, and a beloved member of our community, Suzanne’s impact on Montecito, Santa Barbara, and beyond cannot be overstated.
She redefined what it meant to be a top agent — rising to #1 worldwide for Sotheby’s International Realty and topping national charts as the #1 REALTOR® in the United States. She brokered historic deals, including California’s largest non-commercial transaction of the landmark sale of El Cojo and Jalama Ranches in 2007. She was consistently ranked among the Top 50 agents nationwide by The Wall Street Journal.
But Suzanne’s brilliance wasn’t limited to real estate. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, she brought her elegance and courage to the skies with Pan Am during the golden age of jet travel. She even courageously volunteered for special assignment with the Department of Defense to serve on selected crews to fly monthly R&R and evacuation flights in and out of Saigon, Da Nang, and Cam Ranh Bay during the Vietnam War. That same grace under pressure became her hallmark in every negotiation, every deal, and every relationship.
She found her forever home in Santa Barbara, where she not only sold its most beautiful estates but also helped protect and preserve its trails, parks, and open spaces for decades. She served as Commissioner and later Chair of the County Parks Commission, was appointed by two governors to the 19th Agricultural District Board of Directors, and was a past president of the Montecito Trails Foundation with vision and passion. A third-generation horsewoman, she also judged and bred national champion show horses, offering her clients unmatched insight into equestrian properties.
Suzanne was not only a titan of industry but also a woman of profound wisdom, cheeky humor, elegance, and heart. She mentored generously, listened intently, and led with quiet strength. Whether across a boardroom table or a riding trail, she inspired confidence and profound loyalty.
Her legacy lives on in every family she helped find a home, every hillside she helped protect, and every one of us who carries her love and life lessons forward.
Thank you, Suzanne, for your high standards, brave choices, and for showing us what’s possible with poise, passion, and purpose.
“It is what it is.” ~Suzanne
