I worked with Chris at the Trailhead Tavern in Fort Collins for several years. I have fond memories of talking with Chris on a wide variety of topics while closing the bar, including Chris trying to explain Chaos Theory to me after several too many beers. At the time we were both very fond of an album by Bad Religion called No Control. On one particular night while closing the bar we went off on an idea of taking radical political action. Now, being rational individuals we decided that we should not take such action in our younger years as prison seemed an undesirable place for people of our stature. So, we decided that we should only do such action when we got really old, because if they sent us to jail then, who cares, an old folks home is like prison anyway. We decided to give our political action group a name, GAG, which stood for Geriatric Anarchist Gang. I had shirts printed and still have one in my drawer which I have periodically come across and thought of Chris. I remember joking with him that we should write a movie script that would be part Fight Club, part Cocoon. It would have been a classic cult flick I am sure. I would also like to share a story of our friends Brian and Rhonda's wedding where Chris' date was a quiet, somewhat introverted girl but once the DJ starting playing Pour Some Sugar On Me she rocked out in some of the greratest 80s dance moves, twirling her hair, grinding and the whole 80s bit. It was awesome. Everyone was looking and Chris was just beet red with her all over him, but loving it. It was hilarious. The next morning at breakfast, she was quietly reading a book. While our lives diverged once Chris went to grad school, he was someone that whenever our paths crossed again we picked up right where we left off. The last time I saw Chris was when we both randomly showed up at the bar when Chris was back in Fort Collins for a spell, it must have been right before he was diagnosed, and he came and played softball with the team for the first time in many years the following day. It was great to see him. We talked, we laughed, we exchanged numbers, and then we continued on our individual paths again. I found out this morning that Chris had passed and what he was going through and am saddened by it. Reading through some of your memories it seems that Chris remained the wonderful human being that I knew, which is what I would have expected. I am glad that he was able to travel as much as he did and spread his kindness and appreciation for life, he will be missed.
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