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.
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Pete Pubben
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Frances Bryant-Scott 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.
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Lynn Burch 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
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Robyn Grant It’s strange. I am sure I met Chris when I was small and lived in Victoria. Now I see his face, on the occasion of his passing and I remember it from probably over 35 years ago. I am grateful for the write up above, so that I could hear about the man so adored by so many; a man I only maybe met once, but was dear to my cousins and my late father, Bob Grant.
I am sorry for your loss; yet happy for the life you all shared, which is what lives on forever.
Robyn Grant
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Dana Juba What sad news! The world is truly a better place for Chris having walked through our lives with such enthusiasm, curiosity, kindness and love. Our family met Chris, Karen and Mark on Hornby Island when our week at the Sea Breeze Lodge coincided with theirs. What a happy coincidence! For 7 years we looked forward to meeting up again and sharing a lot of laughs, fishing lessons for the boys and so much more. Karen, your eloquence is astounding at expressing Chris the person – you have truly captured his essence and we so appreciate the picture you chose because that’s just how we’ll remember him. Big hugs to you and the boys at this sad time…Much love from Dana, Larry, Josh, Madeline and Mallory xoxoxoxoxo
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Chris Foster Karen, Sending you hugs, love and more love.
xox
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Kristi Hagen & Bernie Jones Truly a renaissance man! Full of love and kindness and passion for Karen, his sons, and life! We were privileged to see the dawn of a great love, and grieve to hear that it must evolve. Chris will remain forever in the goodness of the universe, and the warmth of the many hearts he touched. Karen, you’ll dance again, all the more beautiful with Chris in your heart.
Kristi & Bernie
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Gill Pierson Karen,
I was so sad to hear the news today of Chris’s passing. What an amazingly beautiful tribute you have written. The two of you were extremely fortunate to have found each other and to have shared such a wonderful part of your life journey together. Scott and I have wonderful memories of that great evening we all spent in Refuge Cove. The love between you was so obvious and true. Treasure your memories and hold that love in your heart forever.
My thoughts are with you,
Gill
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Maya Gosker - Oak Bay Marine Group Karen,
I am sorry to hear of your loss. I have such fond memories of speaking with Chris in the marina office and out on the docks. When I first met you both I thought that all the lovely, smiling, positive energy was just for the new mooring at Oak Bay. Each interaction since our first meeting has been equally lovely, smiling, and positive. That is how I know and remember Chris.
Our warmest thoughts go out to you and your family.Maya and the Oak Bay Marina Crew
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Larry Linda and Tali Our Dearest Karen,
We felt the love, feel the love, and know it to be true.Greeting in Zulu culture literally means: I see you. Chris saw us. We feel seen, and we saw him too: beautiful, smiling, brimming with curiosity, involved, loving.
Karen, anything you need just ask.
We see you. Hugs and more hugs.
Larry, Linda and Tali
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Larry Scotten Karen,
What a tragic loss to the world. Your tribute to Chris was absolutely spot-on. We have lost a good friend and probably all sense the loss of wind in our sails. Memories of “the magnificent Mr. Chris” will however help us sail on. I can tell from the thoughtful comments that we’ve all been touched by his example. He is a friend I’ll miss as well.
Larry Scotten
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Eric Anderson Karen – I am so deeply sorry for your terrible loss and that of Drew and Mark. I will always remember Chris for his love of all things sea and wooden boats, his eye for design and engineering elegance, and, above all, his love for you. I am sending you all my thoughts and heartfelt condolences as you navigate your way through this really difficult passage – but I am sure that he’s standing by your shoulder, pointing the way, holding the chart – and he’ll do that forever. All my strength and love to you…
Eric Anderson
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Sharyl Karen,
You are in our thoughts and prayers. I never had the pleasure of meeting Chris but Deb has told us about him…our loss in not meeting him.As Dr. Seuss stated: Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.
Sharyl
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Cookie and Jack Dubney Dear Karen and family,
There really are no words to express our sadness at your tragic and untimely loss. Our thoughts are with you. Please accept our deepest sympathy.
Cookie and Jack Dubney
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Irene Pozzolo I am so saddened to hear of Chris’ passing but I know how loved he was, how in love, how much he made of his time here. Karen, you have been so lucky to have such a beautiful person to share your life with and I am thinking of you every day.
Strength, love and good thoughts to you and your family in this difficult time. I will do all I can to make the memorial but either way I will be there in spirit.
All our love,
Irene & Alberto
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David Baker and Su Russell Dear Karen,
It was with great sadness that we read of Chris’s death in the paper yesterday. The obituary was lovely and summed up, with great clarity and humour, the character of the man we have known and admired for over 25 years. Su read it and said, “I hope someone writes one like that for me when my time comes”.
Reading between the lines it would appear that Chris’ spirit came to overflow the boundaries of his body and he came to an understanding of one of the great mysteries in life – that as we approach death with an open heart, we come to live and appreciate the gifts of life more than was ever prior possible.
In your presence it was always apparent that the two of you shared a very special relationship. Su and I will always remember with great fondness the day that we met both of you on the ferry to Port Angeles when you were going down to Pt Townsend to survey your boat. The afternoon we spent going over the boat with the two of you was fun filled and delightful.
We will always remember Chris for his joyous appreciation of life and the “little boy” in him that always saw the humour and the ridiculousness in our adult antics, but joined in anyway.
We will be at the memorial service for Chris at the yacht club. If there is any way that we can be of service please give us a call.In memory of Chris,
David Baker
Su Russell
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Philip Burrowes We got to know Cris when he and I worked together for about a year at the same architectural office. We soon became good friends and my wife and I have fond memories of our times with him and his family. As evidenced by the wonderful comments above he really was an energetic, charismatic and delightful friend, full of life and good humor.
Philip and Midge Burrowes
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Carl Jongbloed Farewell Chris. You loved and were loved.
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Bruce & Linda Billings Karen, It was our pleasure to have known Chris in a very small way. Such a delightful man and you, such a wonderful partner for him. We truly wish for you a future full of wonderful memories of your beloved Chris with a smile on your face and joy in your heart.
Bruce & Linda
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Rone and Murray McLellan Dear Karen, What a beautiful tribute to Chris and your great love for each other. I wish that we had known him long enough to hear all those wonderful stories. You will miss him so much, but, as you express so beautifully, you have a treasure chest of memories and love to cherish. A remarkable man, with a remarkable wife!
Take care – hugs to you. Rone & Murray
ps: We are so sorry that we are going to be away on June 29th.
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Tim Mercer I am truly saddened by the news of Chris’ passing. He and I were close friends during our days together at Glenlyon School, as well as at Oak Bay High. He was intelligent, humorous, passionate and all around great guy. We had lost touch over the years as we had followed different paths in our lives, but I never forgot Chris and all the good times we had experienced together.
My sincerest sympathies to Karen, Drew and Mark. He made his mark in this world and has deeply touched everyone who knew him
Tim Mercer
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Kim Daly Karen, I was very sad to hear that Chris is no longer by your side. I remember his sparkling eyes and how much he made me laugh – he was a lovely man.
I am thinking of you.
Kim
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Jan & Allan Cheesman We descended on Chris and Karen two years ago during our first visit to Canada. A mutual friend- Tim Stanley-Clarke, suggested we made contact and, lo and behold, next thing we knew we’d been invited for dinner AND to stay the night even though we were to Chris and Karen complete strangers!. We had a wonderful visit and aside from being served the crispest martini ever, Chris gave usa warm and heart-felt tour of the neighbourhood, marina, coastline etc as well as his fascinating work-space. We speak of them both often and smile. Our love to you all
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Linda Cooney Karen: All the best to you and Chris on this new phase of your journey together, love surrounds you.
Linda
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Crash & Jill Chris, surely you always knew how much we have loved you. And Karen, our love and appreciation of everything that is you continues. We look forward to being with you on the 29th.
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Greg Hakonson My time spent with Chris was always too short as I enjoyed every second of it to the max. He was an amazing and wonderful person, someone to aspire to and someone I shall never forget and someone that had great taste in shirts. We are all better people for having known him. Greg
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Neil Boyle Chris was a very special friend, a very special husband, and he knew how lucky he was to have a very special wife. I shall miss him and I am so sorry he is no longer with us in body, but he will remain forever in out hearts.
Karen, you truly were the best wife for him.
Neil
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Mada Moilliet Karen, what a wonderful tribute to the magnificent Mr. Chris. And the photo is perfect — he looks so pleased with himself and with the world in general. That’s how I think of him. If we can all carry the memory of Chris with us as we go about our daily lives, the world will be a better place. Ted’s and my thoughts are with you. Love, hugs, and teeth to the wind, Mada
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Madeleine Greey Karen, your words reflect Chris’ magnificence into a bright sparkle. I am so sorry that he is no longer with you and with all of those he touched so deeply. I wish I had known him. We send you heart-to-heart love, Madeleine, Krystal and Nick
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Colin and Jennifer Houghton We loved being Chris’s neighbours. I have never met such a positive and optimistic person as he–he could single-handedly restore anyone’s faith in human nature. We are so very sorry for your loss. Colin and Jennifer Houghton
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Erica Applewhite So amazingly written from a heart of love and gratitude. These words are the image of Chris! I love you, dear uncle “Chrissy!” And you will always be my mentor in the art of laughter, delight in the absurd, and deep fascination with life.
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Dama Hanks Karen, I think your words capture the spirit and essence of Chris as much as any words could! And the photograph is so beautiful! Amy and I share in your sorrow, knowing how deep that pain is, but grateful for our time with Chris. He truly does live on through these wonderful memories and the love he shared with us.
With all our love and sympathy, Dama, & Amy ( from NYC ).
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Veronica and Ernie Mangulins It is with profound sadness that we have read of Chris’s passing. We came late to knowing Chris, just last spring when after waiting 6 years we secured a berth at the Oak Bay Marina. It was our good fortune to share a finger on ‘G’ dock with Chris. He was so welcoming and so helpful. We send our heartfelt condolences to Karen and sons Drew and Mark. He was truly a bright light and will be missed. Veronica and Ernie Mangulins, M.V. Sea Esta
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.