Christopher J. Lark

1958 - 2007

LARK Christopher J. Christopher James Lark, 48, of Maumee, Ohio, formerly of Ida, Michigan, died Tuesday, June 12, 2007, in his home after a long illness. His wife, Phyllis, and his children, Adam and Elise, were by his side at the time of death. Chris was born in Detroit, MI, on November 22, 1958, to Dr. Lawrence and Barbara Lark and lived in Ida, MI, where he attended Ida Public Schools, where he played football, baseball and golf, graduating as Student Council President in 1977. Chris and his future wife, Phyllis Montri, of Ida, attended Eastern Michigan University where he attained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education in 1982. He was a compassionate and skilled teacher and began his career with the Monroe County Intermediate School District and over several years contributed his skills at Toledo Public Schools-Washington Elementary, Bittersweet Farms in Whitehouse, OH, Holiday Camp in Monroe County, Lark Lane School in Lucas County and Wood Lane School in Wood County. Chris was a skilled craftsman and enjoyed designing and fabricating furniture, wooden jewelry boxes, and kaleidoscopes. He changed his career path to a variety of industrial sales and service companies including Newasteconcepts, QED Environmental Systems, Monroe Rubber and Plastic Supply Company, and Hyblow USA. Chris' true passion was sailing. He was an expert helmsman and tactician, skills developed in a thirty-five year sailing career at North Cape Yacht Club in Lasalle, MI, where he was the Vice Commodore. His love for the art of sailing was apparent in the gentle way he taught countless people to be confident and enjoy the sport of sailing. Chris had taken over as skipper of the family boat, "The Grasshopper," in which he regularly competed and cruised with family and his closest friends. Chris competed in more than fifteen Port Huron-Mackinac sailboat races where he won his class on three occasions. Chris leaves behind his wife, Phyllis (Montri) of 25 years; son, Adam and his fianc‚ Linda Bylic, and daughter, Elise; his parents, Lawrence and Barbara Lark of The Villages, FL, formerly of Ida, MI; father and mother-in-law, Jerry and Myrna Montri; his siblings, Jeffrey (Donna) of Ida, MI, Matthew (Brigid) of Sylvania, OH, John (Claudia) of Adrian, MI, Thomas (Christine) of Boise, ID, Joseph (Leslie) of Monroe, MI, and Jeanne (Jim) Baer of Dearborn, MI and many nieces and nephews. Family and Friends may visit Friday from 2-8 p.m. in the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave., where funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. The family requests memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.