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
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
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
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
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
Farewell Chris. You loved and were loved.
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
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.
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
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
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