Christopher Alexander Lay

Christopher Alexander Lay passed away at the age of 36, on May 24, 2023 in Fremont, CA.  His roots ran deep in the Bay Area: he grew up in Fremont, went to college and built a life in San Jose, and he loved all the natural beauty California has to offer. California was his playground; whether it was exploring the forests, kayaking in the lakes, or snowboarding the mountains, Christopher appreciated it all and took full advantage of all the outside activities and seasons. 

One of his favorite places was Utica Reservoir. He loved bringing friends there to explore, camp, paddle board, kayak, and catch the amazing sunrises and sunsets. He loved snowboarding at Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe and recently fell in love with backcountry splitboarding. One of his most memorable (and coldest adventures) was a snowshoe backpacking trip at Dewey Point in Yosemite where he dug out a snow cave for him and one of his closest friends to sleep in. 

He was such a bright light to this world, and to the community of friends and family that he built around him. He was a good listener, patient, kind, generous, and always willing to lend a hand. He had a gift of being able to connect with so many people, both younger and older than he was, and to make people feel welcome and comfortable. He always had a smile on his face, and such a cheerful and optimistic perspective on life. Although his time on Earth was cut far too short, he lived life freely and to the fullest.

He is survived by his fiancée, Linda Tran, his  parents, Pedro & Lucy, his sister, Christina (Kevin), and his nephew & niece. 

A service will be held on June 17, 2023 at Berge Pappas Smith Chapel of the Angels in Fremont, CA with the viewing at 1 pm and the service commencing at 2 pm. We will celebrate his life at 5 pm at the Fremont Downtown Event Center.