CHRISTOPHER T. WELCH

WELCH, Christopher, T. Of North Andover. A curious mind, a generous heart, Christopher T. Welch passed away, at age 70, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and truly excellent salads. Born in Newton, MA, to the late Alexander and Barbara (Thompson) Welch, Chris, the baby of the family, with two older brothers, always had a spark for adventure and mischief. His high school journey took a few creative turns (including a memorable final year in Indonesia with his brother, Sandy), but he ultimately graduated from Lawrence Academy and went on to earn a degree in marketing from Stonehill College. Marketing wasn't his first love, design was, and years later, he went back to it, earning a certificate in store planning and design from RISD, while working full-time. He eventually brought his sharp eye and creative mind to BJ's Wholesale Club, where he worked as a Store Planning Manager until his retirement. Retirement didn't slow Chris down. If anything, it gave him more time to do the things he loved. He discovered his love of pottery and Clay Dreaming pottery studio in Beverly became his new office. He spent hours at the wheel crafting bowls and vases he'd gift to friends and family: whether they wanted them or not. He always called his work "crappy pottery," but it was anything but. His wife, Joan, joked she'd start selling it at a farmer's market under the label "Chris' Crappy Pottery." Chris was the gardener in the family, waging an annual battle against weeds with a mix of grit, humor and mulch. His garden was his pride and now, the plants are already starting to droop without him. He loved long walks in the Bird Sanctuary with his friend, Steve, playing golf with his cousin, Frank and soaking up every possible ray of sun; he was determined to become the first redhead to tan, despite his wife's objections. He had a remarkable memory (the king of trivia), an endless appetite for reading, and a passion for history, including his own family's, which stretched back to the Revolutionary War. A conversation with Chris often followed many tangents, a story within a story might begin with a passing comment like a favorite song, a family memory, and 30 minutes later, you'd be deep in the history of a little-known battle in colonial New England or exploring the musical influences of the 1960s. When his daughter, Sarah, was growing up, he packed a video camera around like it was an extra limb, determined to document every sneeze, laugh and crawl into hours-long home videos, including epic productions like "Playing in Leaves: The Feature Film." Chris met his wife, Joan, through their grandparents, who were friends. On their first date, he had a cold but powered through by secretly sipping cold medicine all night. It worked; they were married for 40 years, most recently celebrating their anniversary on June 21. They spent nearly every summer in Kennebunkport, ME, where Chris could indulge his love of the ocean, seafood, and sitting in the sun. He was, above all, kind. The type of person who showed up, listened, remembered the little things, and told great stories. His shockingly booming laugh was so genuine it often made others laugh, too. He loved his family fiercely and was endlessly proud of his daughter, never missing a story she produced and sharing in their mutual love of travel. Chris is survived by his wife, Joan; his daughter, Sarah; his brother, Bruce; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother, Alexander "Sandy." Visiting Hours: A Funeral Mass will be held Monday, July 7, at 11:30 AM, at St. Michael Church, in North Andover, MA. The family asks that those attending wear summer clothes and colors in memory of Chris who loved summer most.

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