Cornelius "Neil" J. Baasten, born May 16, 1948, in the city of Vught, in the country of The Netherlands, walked through heaven's gate on June 3, 2024, after having passed away peacefully at his home in Canton, Ohio.

Neil (nicknamed "Kees" in the Netherlands) was the son of Henricus "Harry" and Antonia "Toni" Baasten. In post-war Europe, Neil's father recognized that higher education for his moderate-income family would not be available. Consequently, Neil's parents, along with Neil and his younger brother, Matthew, immigrated to the United States in 1956 and settled in Plainfield, New Jersey.

Neil attended Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. While at UC, Neil was active in basketball, baseball, and track, and was the school newspaper editor. In 1966, Neil graduated as class Valedictorian in the first graduating class from UC. Neil accepted a full scholarship to attend the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

As a student at ND, Neil volunteered for four years with the ND/South Bend Neighborhood Study Help Program, tutoring students with limited financial and educational opportunities. Neil was also in the Army ROTC at ND. In 1970, Neil graduated Magna Cum Laude in Accounting, receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from ND. He went on to law school at the University of Virginia. Neil married his wife, Christine ("Chris") Herrick, in the summer of 1971, and attained his Juris Doctor from UVA in May 1973.

After moving to Ohio in early 1974 shortly after his son, Jason, was born, Neil and his young family settled in the Akron area where he began his legal career in a firm practicing labor law. In 1977, his daughter, Cynthia ("Cindy"), was born in Cleveland. In 1978, Neil began working in a law office in Canton, where he expanded his labor law practice, and where he later became managing partner of the law firm. Neil dedicated the next 46 years of his life to providing for his family and contributing to the Canton community through his professional, religious, charitable, volunteer and coaching endeavors.

Neil zealously advocated on behalf of elementary and secondary school teachers, college professors, and other employees. Neil retired from his practice of law and the management of his law firm in 2020.

For many years, Neil volunteered at Our Lady of Peace Church and Elementary School, serving as a Eucharistic minister, as a school advisory board finance committee member, and as the only playground monitor dressed in a suit.

Neil became renowned for his development of soccer in Stark County and throughout Northeast Ohio. Neil volunteered as Chairman for the North Canton YMCA Soccer Board, and later formed and coached Under-12 and Under-14 boys' travel teams through the Greater Akron Soccer Association. As co-owner and co-founder of a soccer field complex, now the Plain Township Diamond Sports Complex, Neil established the Community Soccer Club, a non-profit youth program, and chaired that Board for 12 years. Along the way, Neil earned certified coaching credentials from the State of Ohio.

As Coach Neil Baasten, he was noted for his success coaching high school varsity soccer. In 1987, he founded and coached the St. Thomas Aquinas High School soccer club team, which quickly became a varsity squad, led by Neil for 16 years as Boys Varsity Soccer Head Coach. In 2006, after two years in "coaching retirement," Neil was hired to direct the North Canton Hoover High School Boys Soccer program. During the next 14 seasons as Boys Varsity Head Coach at Hoover, Neil's teams won three Federal League titles and two District titles. Neil ended his coaching career at Hoover after the Fall 2019 season following his most successful tournament run. His overall record as a varsity boys soccer coach was 322 wins, 169 losses, and 61 ties. During those 30 high school varsity coaching years, Neil was named Coach of the Year by various sources 21 times.

Neil was inducted into the North Canton Hoover Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2022, and the Union Catholic High School Hall of Fame Class of 2023, receiving its Community Leader Award.

Neil is survived by his wife, Chris, their son, Jason, their daughter, Cindy Baasten Sabatelli, and her husband, Michael Sabatelli, who live in the Chicago area, along with their son, Kase, who is named after his grandfather. He is also survived by his beloved brother, Matt, and Matt's wife, Beth, who reside in Portland, OR, as well as by their children, Christopher, Sarah, and Erika, and their families. On Chris' side of the family, he is survived by Chris' siblings, Pat, Anita, Jan, Chuck, Mark, and Bob, and her siblings' partners, Stella, Joe, Sam, Candy, Steve, and Beverley, along with many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews, all who cared deeply for Neil.

Neil's family would like to express sincere appreciation for all the medical and Mercy Hospice care professionals who helped care for Neil throughout the final years of his life, and for their compassionate care of all people with complex conditions and dementia-related needs.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Rossi Family Funeral Home, 730 – 30th Street NW, Canton. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Christ The Servant Parish, 833 – 39th Street NW, Canton, with Rev. Fr. Scott Kopp, celebrant. Burial will take place at North Lawn Cemetery, 4927 Cleveland Ave NW, Canton.

In lieu of flowers, Neil's family asks that you consider making donations to The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA), your favorite local school, your church, or your favorite charity in Neil's memory.