Christopher Richard Gernhard Obituary (Sept 15, 1959 – Sept 20, 2024)

Christopher Richard Gernhard (Chris) died unexpectedly shortly after his 65th birthday on September 20, 2024 while in Munich Germany. He was there to celebrate his birthday and to visit his son Nicholas’ new residence near Spangdahlem where Nick is assigned flying F16s with the USAF. He was with his wife, his two sons and close friends. His last meal was topped off with an apple strudel for which he was always on an endless quest.

Chris was born at the old Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover New Hampshire and grew up in Lyme NH. He attended elementary school in Lyme NH and High School in Hanover. He received his undergraduate degree from Connecticut College and MBA from the Dartmouth Tuck School of Business. He spent his career in corporate banking in New York City and Los Angeles but, primarily in San Francisco. Chris worked for Manufacturers Hanover Bank, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. He retired from banking at age of 55 and became a full time dad.

Chris is survived by his wife Serena Mraz-Gernhard and two sons, Nicholas and Nathan who were the center of his universe. He is also survived by his 3 younger brothers, Douglas Robert Gernhard of Lyme NH, Jerry James Gernhard of Mechanicsville VA, and Tim Gernhard of Indianapolis IN.

From a very early age Chris loved the outdoors. He was an avid runner, biker, hiker, skier, and off-road Jeep enthusiast. His spirit of outdoor adventure started early, at the tender age of 14, he took his younger brother Doug on a six day 350 mile cross country bike adventure. They traveled from tiny Lyme NH to Norwich CT with rain and sunshine via Boston and Provincetown MA. Miraculously they ending up at their Uncle Richard’s house having been bitten by dogs only once. During high school, while working as a life guard at Post Pond in Lyme, he taught a future Olympic gold medal skier to swim and years later taught his wife to ski down a mountain respectfully. Chris was the force behind his two sons becoming expert skiers and the force that place adventure in their hearts. He biked the west coast from Washington to Southern California on several occasions. He loved travel and often brought his parents and friends along on great adventures. Always his biggest joy was any facet of his son’s lives.

Chris spent the majority of his life living in and around San Francisco. He finally made his permanent residence in Novato, just north of the Bay area. He picked Novato for its outdoor beauty, low-key nature, close community and significantly reduced traffic. He was well known at the local coffee shops, Costco, and the Wells Fargo Novato branch. He held a passion and skill for meeting complete strangers and turning them into friends. He loved hosting these friends for dinner parties, home or away, always with enough food to feed entire nations.

Chris was a wonderful friend, son, brother, uncle, devoted father and husband. He is and will be deeply missed.

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