Don Christopher

Don Christopher

Don Christopher Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Dec. 26, 2022.
Don Christopher was the Garlic King, owner of the California ranch that is the largest garlic producer in the country.

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February 18, 2023

Tony posted to the memorial.

January 6, 2023

Marie Blankley posted to the memorial.

January 4, 2023

Someone posted to the memorial.

23 Entries

Tony

February 18, 2023

To the family, many, many friends and colleagues of this wonderful man Mr. Don Christopher fine comfort with you during this difficult time in your lives. Mr. Don Christopher was the Garlic King, owner of the California ranch that is the largest garlic producer in the country. We will miss Mr. Don Christopher's presence and his many contributions to his community in Gilroy, California and the world. May the love and the special memory you shared and cherish with him show just how much your life was touched by him. May you find comfort in your wealth of fond memories together with Mr. Don Christopher. May the God of comfort bless your grieving hearts with strength, loving kindness and peace as the world copes with the loss of Mr. Don Christopher. He will be greatly missed, but not forgotten.

Marie Blankley

January 6, 2023

For all of us in Gilroy, Don's legacy will live on forever. On a more personal note, together with his warm smile and genuine good-heartedness I will remember how I discovered his love of rum cake (when he told me it was his favorite after I'd made a whiskey cake!), and his humor when the Welburn Ave home was on the Gilroy Assistance League (GAL) home tour and he told me it was because he wouldn't have me show him up from having my home on the tour the year before. He was continually supporting efforts to help our community. How lucky we are that Don ended up in Gilroy and that we had so many years to share in and benefit from his goodness.

January 4, 2023

May God sustain you and your family in this time of sorrow.

December 31, 2022

My deepest condolences to the family. May the God of all comfort sustain your family during the days ahead.

Jesse

December 30, 2022

My condolences.

Mary Ann Milias St. Peter

December 27, 2022

Herb Caen once wrote in his daily column that Gilroy is the only place in the world where one can marinate steaks by hanging them on the clothesline. All made possible by Don Christopher.Rest in peace.

Sharon Smich

December 27, 2022

To the Christopher family, please accept my deepest sympathy on your loss. Yes, I did roll down the windows in Gilroy and smelled the wonderful aroma of garlic. I was a guest of a friend to the Garlic Festival in 1999; my friend played bass in the Shaboom band which was a big attraction to the festival...Rest easy, Mr. Christopher.

Stephanie Schell

December 26, 2022

Your contributions will be remembered.

Stephanie D Schell

December 26, 2022

Contributed to the food industry.

December 26, 2022

Thank you, Mr. Christopher. Our family has enjoyed your wonderful products, regularly, for decades. You were a very important part of the agricultural community in the Bay Area, the state of California, our country, and the world. Rest in peace.

Barbara Bottini

December 21, 2022

Mr. Christopher was a great contributor to our city of Gilroy and a credit to his family. I send my condolences and sympathy at his passing.

Plant a Tree

Art Correa

Sent Flowers

Art Correa

December 21, 2022

Our deepest condolences to Karen and the whole family. We knew Don briefly and had the pleasure of seeing how much love he and his wife Karen shared together. God Bless.

Eric, Samantha, Emily, and Leah Chuck

December 21, 2022

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Phill Laursen

December 16, 2022

I have warm memories of Don Christopher. The first time I met him was at a large party full of prominent Gilroyans. He was seated at our table and instead of looking around to switch seats and be with more influential people, he conversed enthusiastically with my wife and me.

Of course his charitable work and involvement with the Garlic Festival deeply impressed me, but more personal was when Pat DeStasio invited me to the ranch to select photos for a book, "El Camino Real - Highway 101 and the Route of the Daylight". The Gilroy Museum had been approached by the Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation with a request for photos to highlight Gilroy as one of the interesting locations along the route. Seeing Pat and me from across the room, he approached with obvious interest and eagerly got involved in our project. That direct participation really touched me.

Marianne Eichenbaum

December 15, 2022

The Gilroy Center for the Arts would not function as it is today without the generosity and compassion of the Christopher family. We are deeply saddened by the passing of Don Christopher. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Christopher family. We are eternally grateful to this kind and generous man. May you rest in peace!

Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Ron Vyse & Brad Moore

Planted Trees

Dalene Obata

December 15, 2022

Karen, Robert and Bill (and the rest of the extended Christopher clan) ~

My sincerest sympathy and condolences to you all. Don was such a gentle giant in Gilroy, and shall be dearly missed. He was not only my father’s friend and farming contemporary, but I ran The Pit STOP Stand” for Don for several years back in the ‘70s. Rest in peace, Don..

Dalene Obata

Jose Avelar

December 15, 2022

I move to Gilroy when he first had his first garlic festival in the house that sits on 101 and highway 25 it sims like is a long time but times flies like a blink of an eye my condolences to everyone God bless you and God give you peace

ROBERT GOMES

December 15, 2022

Sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Christopher, good man, one of the people to help put Gilroy on the map. My condolences to the family. God Bless.

Group of 10 Trees

Vanessa La Corte Courneen

Planted Trees

Roy Sumisaki

December 14, 2022

In loving memory of one of the great pioneers who brought Gilroy to the spotlight. A kind, generous and thoughtful leader who won't be soon be forgotten. RIP sir.

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February 18, 2023

Tony posted to the memorial.

January 6, 2023

Marie Blankley posted to the memorial.

January 4, 2023

Someone posted to the memorial.