Christopher G. Holmes

Chris Holmes, 69, of Granby, CT, passed away on March 14 at Hartford Hospital surrounded by his family after a short battle with Interstitial Lung Disease.

Chris's motto was "Live fast, take chances" and that he did. To say that Chris lived a full life is an understatement. All who knew Chris, loved Chris. And those friends were many-from Maine to Florida. Golf, sailing and skiing were his passions. If you played golf anywhere near Northern Connecticut, you knew Chris. If you kept a boat anywhere in the Stonington, CT area, you knew Chris. If you skied anytime in Vermont, you would have crossed paths with Chris. That's because Chris's personality was larger than life, and he would welcome you in with open arms and brighten your day.

Chris started out in the Enfield school system, graduating from Enrico Fermi High School in 1974. He was a standout all-area soccer goalie, earning him a scholarship to Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. As the team's captain, he finished with a career goals-against average of around just 2, chiefly due to his intimidating style of play. He was named to both All-Conference and All-District teams in 1977 and was inducted to the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

It was at Thomas College that Chris developed many lifelong friendships and made some of his fondest memories.

In his career, Chris was consistently a top sales performer within the printing industry. He was more than once was lauded as Salesman of the Year and stacked up a number of achievement awards along the way. He had the unique ability to bridge the gap and satisfy both the client and his company.

A longtime resident of Juniper Drive in Granby, Chris had a gift for bringing the neighborhood together. Whether it was through winter pond-hockey or pickup wiffleball in the summer, Chris had a fatherly presence even before starting a family of his own.

In 1989, while on an adventure aboard his sailboat, "Malarkey", Chris met the love of his life, Christine, on Block Island. They would soon marry and raise two boys-Matthew and Andrew-passing down to them their love for sailing the Rhode Island coastline.

Chris's sense of community was wide, and his home was an open door of love and hospitality. 10 Juniper Drive was the annual home for Christmas Parties, Super Bowl get-togethers, and was always the best house on the block at Halloween.

Chris became a well-loved member of the Granby Men's Golf League, played at Edgewood Golf Course on Wednesday afternoons. It was on these fairways that he shared countless laughs with his friends, often donning a golf cap of his beloved Baltimore Orioles.

Chris is survived by Christine, Matthew, and Andrew, as well as his brothers-Tom of Baraboo, Wisconsin, and his wife Sue; Rick of Scituate, MA, and his wife Kimberly-and his sister Nancy and her husband Ron, of Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada, along with many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard, and mother, Patricia.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, March 19th from 4pm - 7pm, at Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Home, 364 Salmon Brook St. Granby, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 20th at 11am, at St. Therese Parish, 120 West Granby Rd, Granby, CT.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Chris's memory to Saint Therese Parish, 120 West Granby Rd, Granby, CT 06035.

For those unable to attend Funeral Services, please visit the Carmon Funeral Home Website for the web stream link to view the services. For directions, memory sharing and condolences, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com