Christopher Robert Shepard
February 02, 1967 - April 29, 2020
San Diego California
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Christopher Robert Shepard
February 02, 1967 - April 29, 2020
San Diego California
Obituary
Christopher Robert Shepard was born on Groundhog Day, February 2, 1967 at Doctors Hospital, Seattle, Washington. He later moved to Southern California and his youth was spent in Westlake Village and Tustin areas. Upon graduating from Foothill High School, Chris enrolled and thrived at University of San Diego where he played Rugby and developed lifelong friends. He graduated in 1989 from USD with a business administration degree which enabled Chris to hone his business skills in project and time management. The last eight years were spent at Jones Payne Group/San Diego where he was involved in Field Construction Management providing construction services for the San Diego Airport Quieter Home Program. Chris loved the outdoors and was a true free spirit. He was an avid fly and saltwater fisherman. He could hold his own with many great fishing stories. He knew all the waters from Alaska, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Chile and all around the western United States.
The strongest passion for Chris was Kawasaki Motocross. His bike, his friends and his adventures were a true love.
Wherever Chris went he made and touched friends who loved him for life. He also touched the hearts of the doctors who worked with him and they stated his strength and spirit were inspiring. Chris’ faith in Jesus Christ gave him the ability to embrace hope through the many challenges he faced. Chris was welcomed into eternal life on April 29, 2020.
Chris is survived by his parents Kitty and Bob Shepard of Palm Desert, CA; his brother Michael Shepard, his wife Colleen and four nieces Molly, Katie, Erin and Delaney of Ladera Ranch; aunts, uncles and cousins.
The funeral Mass will be held May 13th at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ladera Ranch with interment at Ascension Cemetery, Lake Forest.
To view the live-streamed Funeral Mass for Chris at 10:00 AM, May 13th, please click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/holytrinitycatholicchurch
It will be active 30 minutes before the service begins.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Chris’ name to the John Wayne Cancer Institute, Attn: Dr. O’Day/Foshag, 2121 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404.
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74 responses to Christopher Robert Shepard
Natasha Zander Hilmes says:
May 12, 2020
The first time I met Chris and every time I saw him after that, he was always smiling! There wasn’t a time either that he didn’t provide words of encouragement during our bike rides. Great memories that I will carry with me. He will be missed.
Sam & Christi McDermott (and Jake and Josh) says:
May 12, 2020
To Bob, Kitty, Mike, Colleen and all the girls:
It’s been hard to come up with the right words…
The best we can say is that we love Chris Shepard. Just absolutely love him. It’s as simple as that.
Hard to believe he’s been a part of our life for 35 years. Great Friend. Great Roommate. Great Teammate. Honest. Humble. Genuine. The Real Deal in every sense of the word. We remember the birthday parties. We remember the stories. We remember the bikes. We’ll miss his jokes. We’ll miss his smile. We’ll miss his routine visits to our house on lazy Sunday afternoons. We’ll miss everything about him. So sad to see him go… and yet so happy that when he finally left, we know he fell right into the arms of Jesus on his way to heaven. Really looking forward to seeing him again one day. We love you Shep.
Shannon Jardina says:
May 12, 2020
I am so deeply sorry for your loss. I met Chris through TNT while training for the ride in Tahoe. He always had a big smile and encouraging words. He had a wonderful presence about him that was so nice to be around. Crossing the finish line with him while he was going through everything was such a special experience. I wish you peace in the happy memories.
Shannon
Susanne Hoover says:
May 12, 2020
Thank you for the beautiful obituary. Chris was such a special human being – he was a dear member of our bike team for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Also he graduated from UCSD the same year as I – didn’t know of that connection!
We will all miss him. He will live in our hearts forever and I will dedicate my bike training for LLS in his memory.
Teri storc says:
May 12, 2020
Kitty and Bob,
Thank you for posting such a nice tribute to Chris. Chris had touched so many of us through Team in Training and supported so many battling cancers and supported the loved ones of cancer patients.. He proved that he was such a strong warrior through his own battle with cancer and handled it with his positive attitude and humor. He will be missed by all of us but his spirit will remain with all of us! We love you Chris!