Christopher Edward Thomas

Christopher Edward Thomas, known as Chris or "Little Chris" to friends and "family" was born in Newark, NJ to parents Christopher Columbus Thomas and Marlene Thomas on August 2, 1959. Chris's mother was an elementary school teacher, and his father owned a record store. The family moved from Newark to Montclair where Chris and his sister Celia attended grade school through high school. As they lived across from Nishuane Park, Chris spent many a day playing football and basketball in the park with friends. He especially enjoyed basketball.
Upon graduation from high school, Chris attended the University of Hartford where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in business. He worked for a few companies until he landed a job at Merrrill Lynch in New York. He worked in the IRA department where he was lead clerk, responsible fo training and monitoring several other clerks, as well as fund movements of shares and monetary investments for that department. Merrill Lynch moved to Somerset, NJ and Chris continued with them. While working in Somerset in 1986, Chris was introduced to Dana Wheaton by one of his co-workers, Barberette Talley. Dana worked for Merrill Lynch as well, in the Sharebuilder Department on another floor of the building On June 18, 1988, Chris married Dana and she moved from Westchester County, NY to Montclair, NJ.
Chris grew tired of the commute to Merrill Lynch in Somerset, NJ. He began sending out his resume to other companies. Dana's cousin Amanda, informed Chris that Essence Magazine was looking for someone to handle payroll and the monetary side of the magazine including the advertisements in the magazine. Chris interviewed and got the job.
In 1993 Chris and Dana announced that they were expecting. In 1994, in the middle on 13 snow storms, Chris & Dana welcomed their son, William Christopher Thomas. The bond between this father and son would be forever. By the look in Chris's eyes the night he held his son William for the first time, I could tell there was nothing in this world that Chris would not do for his son. Several days later, Chris came home in a town car filled with baby gifts from the Essence family of co-workers. Chris worked for Essence Magazine for several years prior to developing heart problems. He had to leave Essence Magazine due to this illness.
Unable to work, Chris went out on disability. His heart got worse and a pace maker was put in. That worked for a several years, but things got much worse with his heart and the only other
option was a heart transplant. Chris was sent to another hospital in New York just to confirm this diagnosis.
One night after 8pm, the heart doctor from Newark Beth Israel phoned informing Chris they had obtained a heart for him. Chris, Dana & William rushed to the hospital, and surgery began
late that night. It ended early in the AM hours of March 21, 2014. It is successful. It took several months after surgery for Chris to be functional again, including a stay in a nursing home and out patient therapy after that. He could not return to work, but he could walk, move and drive again. Stress, exhaustion and anything that would affect the heart had to be avoided. For several years, all went well. Chris had 2 major cardiac episodes over the last seven months. He was placed on a ventilator for a few months, his breathing did improve and he was then placed on oxygen only. Through this, the heart held up well, the kidneys did not. He went into renal failure, and went home to be with the Lord on January 24, 2025.
Chris is survived by his wife Dana, his son William, his daughter-in-Busisiwe, his niece Renee and two nephews, Alexander and Terrance.
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