Christopher Brown Downing

Christopher Brown Downing, 59, of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2025, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer, surrounded by his loving family.

Christopher was born on January 10, 1966, in Buffalo, New York, the son of the late Robert F. Downing and the late Suzanne Brown Downing.

He is survived by his former wife of 30 years, Celeste, his partner and dear friend, with whom he shared a loving bond and deep respect that endured beyond their marriage. He also leaves behind his greatest accomplishment and proudest legacy, his daughter, Caitlin Rose, with whom he shared an unbreakable bond filled with laughter, love, and endless memories.

Christopher graduated from St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in 1984 and went on to attend Northwood University, where he earned a degree in Automotive Business.

He began his career at his uncle's car dealership, Towne Ford, in New York. He later moved to Florida to work for Scanlon Mitsubishi as a Service Writer, where he began a lifelong friendship with the entire Scanlon family-especially John and Jay.

After six years, Christopher moved to Atlanta, Georgia, continuing his career with Lexus Corporate at the Southern Area. Christopher left a lasting impression on his Southern Area family, as their friendships continued for years beyond the office and into his next career endeavors.

Through his incessant hard work and dedication, Christopher continued to rise through the ranks and eventually moved to Los Angeles, California, to work with Toyota Motor Sales before returning to Fort Myers to care for his parents. He continued his work with Scanlon Auto Group as Vice President for the past 13 years, becoming a pillar of the brand and a smiling, familiar face to all.

Christopher's love for the automotive industry extended far beyond the office. He was an avid auto racing enthusiast, building a cherished relationship with Toyota Racing Development and Vasser Sullivan Racing. He also had a deep affection for the ocean, spending countless days on the water and taking in every sunset he could from his beloved boat. At home, he loved spending time with his pug puppies, Rosie and Paddy, watching the Georgia Bulldogs and Buffalo Bills play.

Christopher was a devout Catholic and lifelong parishioner of the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord. His faith enabled him to live a life of kindness, humility, and belief in the goodness of all.

Remaining to cherish Christopher's memory are his seven siblings: Valerie (John) Caulfield, Robert (Elizabeth), Kathleen (Robert) Gannon, Timothy (Angela), Edward Brown, Brian (Patricia), and Suzanne (Michael) Cryan, as well as many cherished nieces and nephews who adored their "Great Uncle Chris." He is also remembered by a large, loving extended family and wonderful friends who will forever hold his humor, warmth, and generous heart close.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025 from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM at Harvey-Engelhardt Funeral Home (1600 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33907). A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord (8051 Cypress Lake Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33919), with Monsignor McNamara officiating. A Celebration of Life will also be held in Buffalo, New York at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Christopher's memory may be directed to the Jackson Health Foundation (https://jacksonhealthfoundation.org/), as Christopher was a dual-organ transplant recipient who was eternally grateful to the Jackson Transplant Institute for giving him six more years of life.