Christopher Allan Rieder
May 7, 1947 – April 26, 2016
Christopher Allan Rieder (born Kitchener, ON May 7, 1947) died at home on Salt Spring Island on April 26 2016.
Chris was not born a west coaster, but he was a true west coaster at heart, spending most of the 47 years he lived in BC either on or near the water. He was a Lighthouse Keeper (at Sheringham Point, near Sooke, Active Pass on Mayne Island and Sand Heads in the Fraser River.) As a DFO Patrolman on his sailboat Pas de Deux (which he built) & then Skipper on the Fisheries Patrol Vessels Heron Rock & Otter Bay, he was responsible for the west coast of Vancouver Island from Estevan Point to Brooks Peninsula and all the inlets and rivers in between.
He loved the coast and all it had to offer, introducing newly arrived neighbours (and his elderly parents) to clam digging, taking friends and family out on his second sailboat, and later his speedboat so they could fish, swim off Chocolate Island, drop the crab trap, visit one of the other Gulf Islands or just go for a ride on the ocean.
Chris was a picnicker extraordinaire and shared many fabulous al fresco meals with friends and family in Canada, the US & France.
He was passionate about classical music, an artist and sculptor with a keen eye for design in both the house and garden. Chris enjoyed building many of his own designs. He could build anything, and he was a regular Mr Fixit. His other passions included cooking, learning languages and studying history. His most recent passion was a project concerning an early 19th century anchor. Now somebody else will have to solve the mystery of whatever happened to the Boston’s anchor.
To one nephew, he was a true renaissance man, to other nieces and nephews he was Just Plain Chris, or Uncle Punky. But whatever they called him, he will be missed by all his family and friends, most especially by his wife Jackie. Au revoir Sweetie
There will be a gathering to honour Chris at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Canadian Red Cross to help our friends & neighbours in Fort McMurray.