Dearest Serena,Nicolas and Nathan,it is with the deepest sadness we have come across the passing of Chris…we had received a email in February 2024 and knew you were away as Nicolas was now in Germany with the airforce…you all were our great neighbors …watched the boys grow and hearing of your travels and the accomplishments of Nicolas and Nathan…we find this very hard to believe……a wonderful person…please know we will keep all of you in our thoughts and prayers…take care and God Bless ….With love Jayne and Paco

To Serena, Nicholas, Nathan, Douglas, Jerry and Tim, and all who loved Chris,

I am so very sorry to hear of Chris' death, which I just learned about through the Connecticut College Magazine. Chris and I were friends at Conn. He was not a party guy, and neither was I, so we spent time together doing quiet things like playing backgammon (many, many games!) or simply talking. At least once I hung out with him while he played pool.

I saw him only once after we graduated, when I traveled with my husband to San Francisco on a business trip. We had a little tour of his office in the Transamerica Pyramid, and then went out to lunch. That was 1984. After that, we lost touch. 

It has been many years, but I remember Chris fondly. Please accept my sincerest condolences.

Chris (Saxe) Easton

CC Class of 1981

Just remembered a story about skiing w Chris and another BT guy Mark O’Leary (Boston go figure😜) Chris hit a tree trunk/branch something hidden in the snow up at Mt Rose. Had to see the ski patrol doc - who said wow that’s a totally radical hemotoma. Doc said you should take a break for a few days; well ton of snow so Chris said really? Ok, he said you can ski.  But sorry dude, you will have to stay out of the hot tub for a few days. Chris response was well hot tub was broken. His response: what Karma😜.

I met Chris in the fall of 1981 at the Bankers Trust training program where 40 of us from around the country and around the world took classes together at BT’s building in lower manhattan across the street from the World Trade Center. In the spring of 1982 we were assigned to Bankers Trust offices around the country; Chris and I were assigned to SF. Three others were assigned to their LA offices. After a fruitless week of apartment hunting w a friend , and Chris looking for a single we joined forces and rented a really nice 4 bedroom place in Cow hollow. For a fraction of the rent we had been paying in NY.  The next few years we all hiked, biked and in at least one case did a biking wine tour😜. Chris moved to the LA office in the fall? Of 1985. While in LA he shared a house w Mike Wall. Those of us from SF traveled down for some beach time and regularly visited a rock’n roll sushi place in Manhattan Beach. It was good to be young😜. Years later Chris moved back to SF after business school. Many of us BT classmates attended Chris and Serena’s beautiful wedding up in Sea Ranch.  I suspect they returned there regularly over the years; They were back there this past summer as Chris mentioned he was barely able to golf because of the wind!  Chris you will be missed. I hope there are ski runs galore on the other side. Love to you all.  Hallidie Haid

Serena, Nick and Nathan,

Joel and I only heard about Chris’s passing this evening while at dinner in S.F. after watching the blue angels, something Chris would have loved.  Hallidie Haid passed along the news that she heard from Chris Dowd via email this evening.  I am so sorry we missed the memorial today - Chris was a very dear friend of ours, and you may know that he and Hallidie were my first friends in S.F. when I got transferred to S.F. with Bankers Trust in 1983.  I briefly lived in the house that he and Hallidie lived in, and Chris helped me find my first apartment in S.F.  The group of friends we made in those days was very tight and we had many adventures together, including several Russian River canoe trips, a trip to Monterey/Carmel and a trip to Los Angeles as a group.  More recently Chris made sure we got together for lunches with Jay Cattermole and that we gathered in Jay’s backyard during COVID before Jay passed from ALS.  Chris was always kind, caring and a great friend.  Please accept our condolences.  We are very sad, but glad he was a part of our lives.

Take care, Melissa and Joel Plaisance

A group of us were cycling in Calistoga and I was struggling on the climbs. Chris saw that, quietly slowed, and put his hand on my lower back to help me up the hill. 

Although that was decades ago, I think often of his kindness, leadership and strength in that moment.

We are so sorry for your loss, Serena, Nick & Nathan.  Chris is a wonderful neighbor and will surely be missed.  Sending healing thoughts & prayers to you and family.   💕🙏💐

I am so sorry and sad to hear this. I’m holding Serena, Nick, and Nathan in my thoughts and heart. I know Chris’ memory will always be for a blessing.  

I have wonderful memories of those elementary years with you 4, always grateful for your friendship. 

I’m in Florida or I would be there with you. My new phone 772-564-1543.  Sending love and hugs. 💗💔💗

Chris will be very missed.  His generous heart and enthusiasm were unmatched.  I loved running into him and catching up on his newest travel adventures. 

Serena, our love is with you and the boys, at this difficult time.  We are very disappointed to be out of town this weekend and miss his Celebration of Life.  

With deep and heartfelt sorrow the Cresalia Family extends the greatest of condolences to the beautiful Gernhard Family ♥️💔♥️ It is impossible not to weep tears of sadness and love at the passing of dear Chris…truly his young presence on Earth will be sorely missed   We are so very grateful to have known him  for the years that we had with him and his outstanding family! Dear Lovely Serena…with our Love, Devotion and Prayers we hold up your precious self in your sorrow while being ever so much more grateful for the  years we all had shared with him…he is truly and deeply missed 🙏🥰🙏

Music Concert — with Beloved Chris…forever Missed🙏🥲🙏

Dinner at the Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company

Unbelievable dinner a la the great Chef Chris!!

Fabulous New England Lobster Dinner!!

Loved to have the Gernhards for dinner in our backyard

Loved to have Chris and Serena join our backyard music concerts

Chris and Serena loved to help out at benefit Abalone Dinners for Marin Catholic