Alex Gian Cherry

Alex Gian Cherry was born in Portland, Oregon on May 22, 1980, to his parents, Roger and Ilona and joined sister, Tija. His life's adventures began in West Linn near woods, a flowing creek, and the Willamette River shore, where he developed a love for adventure and the outdoors. His Italian and Latvian heritage played an important role throughout his life, and he gained citizenship in both countries as an adult.
In his earlier years he participated in baseball, football, track, soccer and wrestling teams at Our Lady of the Lake School and West Linn High School. His adventurous spirit was nurtured further through his time in Boy Scouts. In Scouting he gained a wealth of skills, many which he would carry throughout his life. He hiked, climbed, canoed, and camped across Oregon. By fifteen he shot his first deer, had climbed to the top of Mt. Hood, attended the World Jamboree in Holland and earned the Eagle Scout award. Going hunting with his father was a special time for Alex.
As a young adult his journey took him in different directions. He served for three years in the U.S. Army's 501st Airborne Brigade in Anchorage, Alaska, as an anti-armor weapons specialist. He was deeply affected by his military service. He began studies at Landmark College in Vermont, but this East Coast adventure ended, and he came back home. He completed the Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute and went to Turin, Italy for a session at the Italian Cooking School for Foreigners. He worked in the restaurant industry and shared his love of food and culinary skills with friends and family.
A lifelong fan of Portland's soccer team, the Timbers, Alex was a proud and vocal member of the Timbers Army, always ready to sport the green and gold and root for his team alongside his circle of friends. His interests ranged from various genres of music-he dabbled in several instruments- to photography, where he shared the beauty of blossoming flowers. He also had a passion for world history, particularly military battles with visits to Civil War battlefields, and the Bastogne battlefield in Belgium Ardenne. A skilled marksman, Alex had a lifelong interest in weaponry, gunsmith, and whittling. His close-knit group of friends, including Gabe, Jeremy, Louis, Tom, Marcus, and Richard, who will fondly remember the countless shenanigans they shared, often with Alex leading the way on unpredictable adventures. They all say Alex enriched their lives.
At his core Alex was a gentle and kind soul, always empathetic to those in need. He kept supplies in his car to hand out to the homeless and his heart was open to helping others. His mission in life was to deliver joy wherever he went. His storytelling was filled with humor and adventure, many quite unbelievable, captivating his friends, and leaving lasting memories. A special spot along the Willamette River was where he would retreat to calm his mind and spirit, a place of solace for him.
In 2020 his life was profoundly impacted by the sudden death of the love of his life, Elin. He struggled with grief that was compounded again by the death of his sister, Tija, in 2022. Alex tried to grapple with the losses, but the ghosts were relentless and ever-present. In the fall of 2023, he went to visit family and friends in Italy, Latvia and Germany and after 4 months came home. This August he decided to return to Trier, Germany where he had been with friends and life there was vibrant. He was looking forward to starting a new adventure, cleared out his house, packed a suitcase, donned his green cap and off he went to Trier, where in its city center, he had found calm and happiness. He became ill, was hospitalized and on his release, packed up to fly back home to recuperate. He died on November 9 with his mother, friends Tom, Anastasios, and Lynn at his bedside and to the sound of "You are my Sunshine" playing softly as he went on this last adventure to join Elin and Tija.
A funeral service will be held Friday, January 10th at 11:00 am at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church 790 A Av, Lake Oswego, OR, 97034. The service will be streamed live on the church's website at www.ollparish.com
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Alex's memory to the Oregon Latvian Society, 9415 NW 28th Ct, Vancouver, WA 98665.
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