Christopher Allebe passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, at his home in Los Osos. Â He was an avid traveler, deep-sea fisherman, hunter, history buff and a deeply committed activist in his Los Osos community. Â Born and raised in Los Angeles, Chris graduated from George Washington High School in the Winter Class of 1965. He served in the U.S. Army before he joined the Los Angeles Police Department, where he served for 22 years. It was on a trip to Belgium in 1971 that he met his soon-to-be wife, the French-born Elisabeth. The two were married seven months later. Daughter, Adrienne was born in 1979. After he retired from the LAPD, Chris moved his family to Los Osos. His love of travel drew him on countless other trips - visiting family in Europe, fishing in Mexico, and hunting in the southern regions of Africa. While in Los Osos, Chris worked passionately to protect the interests of his fellow citizens. Known to the RWQCB as "CDO-1019," Chris could always be found at public meetings in his trademark straw-hat with the feather dishing out his public comments with dry wit. He will always be remembered for his great sense of humor and eagerness to lend a helping hand. Chris is survived by his loving family: his wife of 37 years, Elisabeth; daughter, Adrienne; mother, Phyllis Allebe of Los Osos; and sister, Kristina Roth of Tennessee. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, at Los Osos Valley Mortuary, 2260 Los Osos Valley Road in Los Osos. Los Osos Valley Mortuary 528-1500 Los Osos
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One minute you were here, Chris.
The next you were gone. You leave a strong family and also the extended family of friends you made here.
You did so much, perhaps your work here was done. I just wanted to say; that uniformed picture near the black and white. Protect and serve. That’s you alright.
February 24, 2010
To the Allebe family,
Chris was a true straight-shooter, tell it like it is, member of our community. By his presence at so many meetings, he brought wit, compassion and understanding to the other CDO recepients. He will definitely be missed and Los Osos is minus it's gentle warrior. Please accept my sincere sympathy.
Vita Miller
February 23, 2010
I just found out that Chris Allebe was not here anymore when I saw the memorial at the corner.
He will always be remembered as a passionate defender of what he held dear; his lovely wife & family are testament to that, as well.
Thank you Chris for all you did to inspire a lot of us here in Los Osos to say what they wanted, regardless of the consequences.
I will see your wife again soon, I hope, walking on the trail while I ride my horse; it is always a pleasure.
God Bless you All,
Julia Meyers
J Meyers
February 23, 2010
Chris was a man of subtle modesty whose quiet, dependably understated presence belied his profound impact on his community.
We who knew Chris, and many who never knew him, continue to benefit from his humanity, his dedication to decency, and his fearless willingness to show up, to stand up, and to speak up.
Chris's untimely passing leaves an enduring vacant space. We will miss him.
Bill & Bev. Moylan
February 21, 2010
Mrs. Elisabeth And Phyllis and Family: Our Deepest Sympathy to You and Your Family in Your Sudden Loss. Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With You. Chris was Such A Big Help In Our Local Community, Much Appreciated By My Family. His Wife Mrs. Elisabeth Became our Friend 15 Years ago, She was My Son Cody's Pre-School Teacher. My Heart Hurts For Your Family. Big Hugs To All Of Chris's Family. Lots of Love, Kendra & Cody & Dean Johe
February 19, 2010
I have some fond memories of Chris,being around him for 10 plus years at Vencie Division.My favorite was when he would put glue on the old sleeping watch commanders shoe, and light it on fire. I am sure he has found Clarence and is up to his old antics.He will be missed. Rick Spear
Rick Spear
February 19, 2010
A valued friend for nearly 57 years will be sorely missed.
Charles Seelye
February 18, 2010
Chris Allebe, You will always be part of our community, our town. Your being, personality, and sense of justice, sense of humour,
February 18, 2010
I want to express my condolences to Chris’ family for their sad loss. Chris was a constant in this community that will be greatly missed. Although we will no longer hear his voice, the echo of CDO #1019 will be held in everyone's thoughts and heard in everyone’s prayers. While CDO #1019 was certainly not what defined Chris, it is amazing that he had so much to lend to his friends and neighbors in the way he diligently represented the collective conscience of an abused community. Chris was a unique soul. Somehow, it is difficult to believe that Chris will simply “rest in peace.”
Steven Senet
February 16, 2010
We have lost a good and honorable man. One that took care of his family, friends, and his community. He served his country, and protected the people of Los Angeles prior to retiring to Los Osos. He was an interesting person with a unique point of view, in which I very much enjoyed in our discussions. I will miss talking to him, but most of all, I'm not sure I will ever meet another man with the comitment to dependability and reliability that Chris possessed. In todays, " fast paced, what's in it for me world," Chris was an old world original who you knew was an honest man. We could sure use a few more men like him around today. Rest well my friend, I'll see you one day in the future. Steve Cordova
Steve Cordova
February 15, 2010
Sometimes Chris, Bruce and I would laugh about being "randomly-selected" to receive our CDO's.
I'd say, "If that's true, I'm Dolly Parton!"
I think of Chris as being needed "Elsewhere".
Lucky them.
Continuing the Fight in his Honor,
Miss Cinthea T Coleman,
CDO #1002
Cinthea T Coleman
February 15, 2010
Dear Elisabeth
Words alone cannot express how I feel about the loss of Chris. I had great admiration for him and the things he stood for, I will miss him very much. My prayers go out to you and your family. Mike Erice
Mike Erice
February 15, 2010
I worked with Chris yesteryear on Venice Division Morning Watch and had one memorable experience with him during a rainy night in 1979.
It was about 0200 when we received a call to phone the station (way before cell phones, if the station had a message for you they didn't want broadcast they had you phone the station).
The message was for him to go home immediately, his wife was expecting, and it was time! We were in the Westchester area and he lived in Redondo Beach. He started to drive home. I figured I would drop him off and head back to the station. The rain was pouring during our drive. I also figured he had cleared this with the W/C.
We finally arrived at his house and parked the B&W in the driveway. We walked into the front door and his wife met us (she was French and spoke with an accent). She was dressed and holding a small suitcase. When she started to walk towrds Chris, she dropped the suitcase and started to collapse. Chris caught her and lowered her to the floor. She said she was about to have the baby!
Chris was in total panic. I had just witnessed my own sons birth a few months earlier at home (a fast labor for my wife where we couldn't get out of the house fast enough and had to summon paramedics. It was a cold foggy night in late Nov. and my son's head was starting to pop out just as the paramedics arrived. If they didn't make it, I was ready to deliver having seen the 5 minute video they showed us once in the Academy 5 years before that).
So I was prepared to get her ready for delivery. I told Chris I should first call for help and he said absolutely not! We're going to Daniel Freeman Hospital in Inglewood right now and you're driving.
We both helped lift her up and escorted her out to our unit. He put her in the backseat and got in with her. I drove us to the Freeman Hosp ER as fast as I could in the heavy rain and fortunately, she held on until we arrived.
The hospital staff came out to our car and she got on the gurney and was wheeled inside. I never saw her again. Chris and I went to a private waiting room. While he was conversing with the staff and filling out paperwork, I phoned the W/C and reported our circumstances. He told me to see if there wad anything I could do to help and leave him and go back on patrol.
Yea right! You don't leave your partner in his time of need.
I waited with him in the waiting room for about 2 or 3 hours (we both slept alone in darkness in nice soft chairs which was better than our sleeping in the car as we had often done on long slow nights).
A doctor came into the waiting room around 6 am and reported that Chris was a new father of s baby girl.
I then left him alone as he went in to see the new baby and his wife. I headed back to the station as I had some explaining to do for being gone so long.
It was about 7am when I got back to the station. I went to see Sgt. Geiger but he had already taken an early EOW and the Day Watch Sgt. had taken over. When I told him about our activity for the shift, he smiled and told me to go ahead and check out early since I had such an eventful night.
Chris took off a few days I think and when he returned he was handing out cigars to everyone as a proud papa with a big smile. There were a lot of jokes from the guys about Chris giving something away without getting something in return. It was also the first time I ever saw him give anything out without getting something back in return...
I last worked with him sometime in 80- 81. As it is with many old partners, you fade away and lose touch. I haven't seen him since those days as he never went to retirement or reunion parties.
However, my memories are clear for those days and they are more amusing now that so much time has passed. He was certainly an old school, one of a kind policeman from another time. He would have served better in the 1920's rather than the 70's. But that being said, it was hard not to like him.
I have other memories of him that make me smile when I think about him, and in the end if that's the effect you had on people, then you were pretty successful.
So, I guess Chris was pretty successful and I hope he had an enjoyable retirement and a not too painful End of Watch.
Steve Rose
February 15, 2010
We didn't know Chris that well, were just getting to be friends when he was suddenly taken away. We send our condolences and blessings to Elizabeth, Phyllis and the rest of his family.
Dianne and Michael Burke
February 15, 2010
Dear Allebe family,
Chris made his life a good one and is an example of service to his fellow creatures. I wish you all health and happiness for I am sure Chris would not want you morn but to celebrate the time you shared. Parting is such sweet sorrow but we all have more time to be better. This is a gentle reminder how fragile we all are and that we should be as kind to each other and honor one another as we do Chris.
Al Barrow
February 15, 2010
My heart goes out to the family and those friends closest to Chris in this time of grief. The immeasurable loss of this wonderful man cannot be adequately expressed.
For me, Chris shared his example of stalwart integrity through a life well lived. Nurtured by his exceptional love and devotion for his wife, Elisabeth; His fathers pride in his daughter, Adrienne; and devotion to his mother, Phyllis, this honorable family man extended his caring to his community and neighbors. Chris' no B.S. approach to life always ringed true, as he called it as he saw it. He did this better than anyone I know.
I remember our hours of work together on the sewer, the CSD recall election, and finally the current CDO's lawsuit. He was tireless in pursuit of bringing community solutions, pursuing fairness and especially, the protection of individual rights against abuses.
Because of Chris, those hundreds of hours of tabling for signatures, placing signs, large and small, and working with his mom on phone calls & meetings continued when others grew weary or gave up.
Chris never stopped. Now his work and hopes for our community live on through our memories.
I will never forget Chris, and I am grateful for the opportunity to know him.
Blessings, comfort and much love to Babette & family.
Gail McPherson
February 15, 2010
Dear Elisabeth and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I only met you briefly but am deeply sorry for your loss.
Eileen Bilynsky
February 15, 2010
Dear Family of Chris. We will miss our fellow water warrior. Love and Light,
Daniela
February 15, 2010
Though not a personal acquaintance, I recognized Chris at meetings, indicating his care and dedication to this place we love.
betty winholtz
February 15, 2010
Chere Babette,
I only learned or "Snookum's" passing this morning, and it is with a very heavy heart that I send my love , thoughts and prayers to you, Adrienne and all of the family.
Claude Durand-Thurston
February 14, 2010
Dear Elisabeth and family,
I am so sorry for your loss, Chris will be missed deeply. I will always remember Chris and his kindness to come and help us at VCC with all his handyman skills, from welding tricycles back together, to fixing our cupboards and tables. He always gave me advice on sewer issues when I did not know how to fill out the stupid forms the county would send. I will miss his smile and of course his hat. I loved that hat.
Your in our thoughts and prayers.
Love
Cindi Bishop & Family
Cindi Bishop
February 14, 2010
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