Christopher Evan Marks

MARKS, Christopher Evan Of Santa Ynez, Calif., passed away on Thursday, Sep. 20, 2012, at age 60. An amazing father, husband, and entrepreneur, Marks was taken prematurely from a family that loved him and the rich, stimulating life that he had built for himself. Born in April of 1952 to Robert and Donna Marks, Marks was raised in Long Beach and went on to attend the University of Redlands of California, pursuing an undergraduate degree in Economics. While working towards his JD/MBA at the University of Notre Dame, he met the love of his life, Kristi Walls, at a midsummer fondue party. After finishing up their respective schooling, Marks and Walls got married in June of 1980. Their five children- Christopher, Jr. ("Chip"), Connor, Casey, Callie, and Carrie- were all born over the next eight years. An active and curious mind led Marks into multiple professional forays. After stints at his father's hardware store, Merrill Lynch, Alex Brown and Prudential Securities, he elected to develop his own private wealth management firm, which in 2010 was restructured to become Marks Theriot Walston Incorporated. He remained a member of the California Bar Association throughout his life. In 1996, Marks moved the family to the Central Coast to take over management of his family's small vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. Over the course of the next fifteen years and under his careful guidance, Sweeney Canyon Vineyards grew from a mere supplier to an award-winning private label. An Eagle Scout, a member of the Tribe of Tahquitz, and an able outdoorsman, Marks' adult years were interspersed with adventure and exploration: climbs to Mt. Whitney, trips to Mexico, western Europe, and central America, skiing, scuba diving, yoga, and culinary experimentation. He served as Bailli of the Santa Ynez Chapter of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, was a member of the Santa Barbara County Vintner's Association, acted as supervisor of the Santa Rita Hills Community Services District, and was an avid supporter of both the Young Americas Foundation and the Reagan Ranch. The roles in which Chris excelled most noticeably and with the greatest joy, however, were as father and husband. The absence of his warmth, humor, perspective, intelligence and endless pursuit of good living will be sorely felt. He is survived by his wife and five children, his mother Donna of Long Beach, and his sister Carol Timiraos of Pasadena. A memorial in celebration of Chris's life will be held at 2:30 pm on Saturday, Sept. 29, at Holy Cross Chapel in Santa Barbara.

Christopher Evan Marks

April 30, 1952 - September 20, 2012