The magnificent Mr. Chris passed away peacefully at home on June 3, 2011 face toward the ocean, teeth to the wind and heart full of love. He carries with him the hearts of his sons, Drew and Mark, wife, Karen (Platt) and an incredible village of friends and family. Words fall short in describing this eccentric, brilliant, delightful, passionate, loving, funny, tenacious, extraordinary man. Chris was fascinated with design – of objects, homes, boats and human beings. He loved a challenge and a project and was forever contemplating and executing the “elegant” solution. He could build or fix anything and was unstintingly generous with his knowledge, intuition and technical ability, helping innumerable friends and colleagues solve seemingly insoluble problems. His name and genius was attached to many patents in the medical and nautical industries. Chris was a renaissance man – off-shore sailor, artist, inventor, architect, philosopher, lover, father, friend. He had a ruthless eye and ear for detail, entertaining many with his impressions of characters, real and imagined. He loved to laugh, most of all at himself. He was a truly uncomplicated man, sensual and infinitely kind. Born in Victoria in 1947, he spent much of his life cruising the BC coast and some of his happiest times were spent aboard his (always) wooden boats. Whether cruising or tinkering, he was most at home on the water. In 1981, he sailed to the South Pacific, heading out with crew and returning one year later single-handed. His stories of that journey were among his proudest, funniest and most often repeated. He loved food, wine, a good story, the company of good friends and anyone who could make him laugh. Chris met his wife Karen in 1994. Their love grew daily right until the end and it never ceased to delight and amaze them. Chris took his cancer diagnosis with equanimity, grace and fierce determination. In the face of impossible odds and incredible losses, he never complained and never lost hope. As the disease eroded his body, he expanded more and more into love and gratitude for everyone and everything in his life and we have all been profoundly altered by sharing his experience. His amazing, indomitable spirit has entered deeply into the hearts and minds of those who knew him – a final, elegant solution to the challenge of remaining alive. Chris lived well and died well, loving and knowing he was well and truly loved.
A Celebration of Chris’ Life will be held on Wednesday, June 29 at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club from 1:00 – 4:00. Please dress in bright colours! Donations may be made to the Ukulapha Outreach Project (www.ukulapha.org.za); Pearson College of the Pacific or InspireHealth (www.inspirehealth.ca) – designated to the Victoria Centre please. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.
33 Responses
No one will miss Chris more than his wife Karen and the sons. My deepest sympathies for you all at this difficult time. My relationship with Chris, was for the most part, was work related. In that regard, I can say with the utmost confidence that Chris Denny was the most talented engineer I ever had the pleasure to work with. A deep thinker with the unique ability to reduce a design problem down to its basic elements and come up with the most elegant solution. Over the course of the years we spent working together I came to admire him not only as an engineer but also as a man and a friend. I will really miss him and our long chats.
Dear Karen,
Such a journey you have been on. Both with your beloved Chris and now continuing with him in your heart. My deepest condolences to you and Drew and Mark. I know I missed meeting an extraordinary human being.
Peace be with you,
Frances.
Karen, Drew and Mark, my heart goes out to you. Karen, like Dana and her family, we met you and Chris during the time our families spent together on Hornby. Your love for each other shone so bright that I can recall it clearly, all these years later. I hope you will be comforted by the love and support of your friends and family during the difficult days ahead. Drew and Mark, please accept my sincere condolences for the loss of your dad.
Lynn