We lost a friend whose passing will leave a hole for many.
Chris Bove was a guy that everyone loved. He didn’t know a stranger, he always had a story to tell, he would never hesitate to jump in to help anyone at any time; he was a special, magnetic person. Chris embodied the Aspen lifestyle. With a molecular biology degree from Marquette University, he was a supremely intelligent and intellectual person. He had a yearning for education and understanding yet also a longing for the mountains. Living in Denver, working in a medical laboratory doing research, Chris left skid marks making his way up I-70 to Aspen for weekends of skiing and teaching. He couldn’t wait to get to the mountains, breathe the fresh air and enjoy all the benefits our lifestyles afford.
Although many that knew Chris knew him from ski racing or from his involvement as an instructor for Challenge Aspen, the Aspen Skiing Co., or from the many race and event crews he worked on, I appropriately met Chris on the ski lift. It was a beautiful, bluebird day on the lift up Highlands where Chris was going to “take a few laps on the Bowl.” In typical fashion, he introduced himself, we made some small talk and a friendship was formed. The countless friends Chris enjoyed met him in a similar way. Nothing better summed up the crew of friends he had like the scene at Aspen Valley Hospital on Saturday night: a mass of people, some who knew each other, some not, coming into and going out of the waiting room, all holding hands and sending him love, laughing and crying together.
One of the many things that makes Aspen such a special place is that everyone who calls it home makes a choice to live here. You don’t get transferred here with your job, move here to climb the corporate ladder or to get an advanced degree; you move here because it’s Aspen and you don’t want to be anywhere else. Chris didn’t want to be anywhere else. He had the spirit and lived it every day.
Times like these make us question life and how fragile it is. Why does this happen to people with so much to offer? Everyone is overcome with sadness and grief bound together by affection and memories we shared together. As cliché as it sounds, Chris died doing what he loved — tearing down the hill, living the dream.
Many thanks to the team at Aspen Valley Hospital which was first class — they treated Chris like their family member and friend, not a patient. We are all grateful for their kindness and dedication to their work.
He leaves us with heavy hearts. To his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Bove — you raised and loved an exceptional young man. He was truly a unique and wonderful person that was loved by so many people. He touched many lives and had a tremendous gift of generosity and spirit. To his sister, Jackie, brother, Andy and nephew Sebastian — he loved you all so much and spoke of you often and affectionately.
Chris, I will miss you terribly and can’t imagine that Aspen will ever be the same without you.
P.S. The many furry friends you took on walks and loved as your own will miss you too: Oliver, Ottos, Gunner, Nell.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Chris. I know you are here and can see all the flurry of activity- people responding to the news with shock and sadness. It is only fitting that today, and the next few days, will be POWDER DAYS- I awoke this morning, looked out the window and smiled. Of course it’s snowing. I think they’ll need the state patrol at the entrance to Aspen to control the floodgates of people coming to say goodbye to you and celebrate your amazing but short life.
I’m trying to avoid the “what ifs” – wishing we would have gone to dinner on Friday, wishing we would have eaten sushi and watched movies last week, wishing I had been home when you stopped by on Saturday- maybe we could’ve had a chat that would’ve made you too late to go ski that day…. I could go crazy wtih these thoughts.
Know that I love you and I miss you and I contininue to be blown away by everyone who shares these feelings with me. Lots of hugs & kisses on V Day. More soon.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Chris. I know you are here and can see all the flurry of activity- people responding to the news with shock and sadness. It is only fitting that today, and the next few days, will be POWDER DAYS- I awoke this morning, looked out the window and smiled. Of course it’s snowing. I think they’ll need the state patrol at the entrance to Aspen to control the floodgates of people coming to say goodbye to you and celebrate your amazing but short life.
I’m trying to avoid the “what ifs” – wishing we would have gone to dinner on Friday, wishing we would have eaten sushi and watched movies last week, wishing I had been home when you stopped by on Saturday- maybe we could’ve had a chat that would’ve made you too late to go ski that day…. I could go crazy wtih these thoughts.
Know that I love you and I miss you and I contininue to be blown away by everyone who shares these feelings with me. Lots of hugs & kisses on V Day. More soon.
My favorite movie is Out of Africa. I tortured Chris at one point making him watch it with me for the 912th time. For those of you who have seen it, Dennis, the lead character dies tragically at a young age. Ironically, he was the same free spirit that Chris is. Dennis was buried on this beautiful point with vistas over the hills of Africa, very similar to Chris’ resting spot in Snowmass.
Karen, his long time friend, reads this poem at his funeral. It seems so fitting. This is by A.E. Housman:
On An Athlete Dying Young.
The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high.
To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.
Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields where glory does not stay,
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.
Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears:
Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.
So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup.
And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl’s.
My favorite movie is Out of Africa. I tortured Chris at one point making him watch it with me for the 912th time. For those of you who have seen it, Dennis, the lead character dies tragically at a young age. Ironically, he was the same free spirit that Chris is. Dennis was buried on this beautiful point with vistas over the hills of Africa, very similar to Chris’ resting spot in Snowmass.
Karen, his long time friend, reads this poem at his funeral. It seems so fitting. This is by A.E. Housman:
On An Athlete Dying Young.
The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high.
To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.
Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields where glory does not stay,
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.
Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears:
Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.
So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup.
And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl’s.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
We just heard the awful news in an email from Dr. Bove! We adored Chris! He was not only an instructor for our son for many years but quickly grew to be a close family friend. When he was in Chicago he called me because he was renting a car to drive an hour out to our sons boarding school to visit him. That was typical Chris. He brought such joy to our lives with his enthusiasm, charm, and tender heart. xoxox Chris Love, Allison, Steve, Parker, Stephie and John
We just heard the awful news in an email from Dr. Bove! We adored Chris! He was not only an instructor for our son for many years but quickly grew to be a close family friend. When he was in Chicago he called me because he was renting a car to drive an hour out to our sons boarding school to visit him. That was typical Chris. He brought such joy to our lives with his enthusiasm, charm, and tender heart. xoxox Chris Love, Allison, Steve, Parker, Stephie and John