CHRISTOPHER H. WORTHINGTON

1929 - 2017

WORTHINGTON, Christopher H. Christopher Halsey Worthington wanted to be a teacher when he got out of the Army in 1953. But when he applied for funds, under the GI Bill, to finish college, an official at the Veteran's Service encouraged him to practice law instead. So he got his undergraduate degree at Boston University, then his BU law degree in 1958, and entered private practice in Boston. From 1970 through 1987, Chris served in the state Attorney General's office as Chief of the Contracts Division; then returned to private law practice until his retirement. In 2010, Chris chose to live at the Old Soldiers' Home in Chelsea. Chris, always full of stories of the goings-on at the Home, enjoyed the camaraderie of his dear friends there, despite the chronic influenza that ultimately led to cardiac failure. He died peacefully at Massachusetts General Hospital on March 31. Chris was born in New York City on February 25, 1929, and grew up in Truro, the son of John C. Worthington and Ada "Tiny" Warden Worthington, who was born in Buenos Aires. He attended the Kent School in Connecticut. He left Hamilton College after two years and headed to the Pacific Northwest on a visit to his brother, John C. Worthington Jr., who was living in Seattle with his wife, Lucinda. There Chris played semi-pro hockey and then found a job as driver for the Commissioner of the Alcan Highway between Canada and Alaska. That ended when he was drafted, during the Korean War, and spent two years with the Army, stationed in Japan. Chris loved the game of hockey throughout his life, and continued playing well into his 50s, when he lived in Hingham with his wife, Gloria Sanders Worthington, of Lexington, and his daughter Christa. In his 60s and 70s, he would take solo bicycle rides to distant states and then call Gloria to come and pick him up. Ever after, he would regale family and friends with his bike adventures. Upon learning of his death, the first thing that Chris's lifelong friend, Ralph C. Woodward of Framingham said was: "He led an exciting life." Following his direction, Chris will be interred at the High Street Cemetery in Hingham, joining his wife, Gloria, who died in 1999, and his daughter, Christa, who died in 2002. He is survived by his dear granddaughter, Ava Worthington of Cohasset, his devoted sister, Diana Worthington of Truro, many nieces and a nephew.

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