Chris Lyon Tribute Site

Dear Caroline and Lee,

I know that tomorrow is the anniversary of Chris’ passing into Unimaginable
Glory. I have spent a lot of time the past several days reflecting on Chris
and the wonderful memories that not only I, but my entire family, have of
Chris: His ever-ready and gorgeous smile, his kind and quiet nature, an
exquisite sense of humor and a hearty laugh, long and impeccably well-cared
for hair that flowed and swished in rhythm with a long, dangling chain that
he wore on his jeans, a passion for art, for beauty, the first person I ever
met aside from my uncle who had knowledge of a Ducati scooter and a Cushman
motorcycle, a teacher who explained tree bark to me in such a way that, not
only did I remember all Chris said, but took his intricate instruction and
passed it on to other appreciative students. I will always remember, as
will Justin, that Justin and I spent, unknowingly, the day of Chris’ passing
in the Carnegie Art Museum in Pittsburgh speaking frequently of Chris and
what he had taught me about art, passing on all I could remember that day to
Justin, finding, with great excitement, paintings with tree bark, which upon
closer inspection, revealed to both Justin and me the truth that Chris
impressed upon me: that tree bark, like life, is full of color and requires
a reverent appreciation. Chris was and always will be one of my most
cherished colors.

Cynthia

I keep a picture of Chris and Alexis on my refrigerator. It sounds dumb but I look at it often and talk to them in my head. Yes, I do this a lot - Having been a shy awkward kid who didn’t speak at all in kindergarten, the teacher just assumed I didn’t speak English and left me in the back of the room painting on an easel – well, maybe that’s where it started being left to my own imagination, painting and talking to myself while chaos was usually going on around me. I have conversations to myself in my head and sometimes they are so good and meaningful to me I somehow imagine that the person I’m thinking of and speaking to in my head miraculously heard the conversation which never left my head or became an email, a phone call, or a letter. It’s one of the biggest regrets in my friendship with Chris and Alexis that I did not contact them more often and keep in touch. I hope they forgive me for being so insecure to believe they would hate to hear from me after I didn’t make it to the wedding, or too embarrassed because I was no longer making art. Usually, I keep thoughts to myself because I feel like a rumpled emotional sideshow to be kept under tents. When, the circus gets to town, I can be overly emotional and gush about things or go on and on – and I can see people’s eyes glaze over and then I hear another level of my self dialogue saying, “please shut up” but the side of my brain that grabbed control of my mouth doesn’t listen. Yes, head case fo’ sho’. And Chris and Alexis were witness to the special edition drunken sideshow on many occasions – which was just a free for all. So I thought I would try to wrestle my self dialogue into text and try to rein in the various personalities competing to author this post. In a conversation to my refrigerator picture of Chris – I say hey Chris, Why the hell did you leave the party so soon? I’m so mad at you and if you were standing right hear I might kick you in the shins or give you a titty-twister or put you in a head lock. It reminds me of when you ate all those pickled eggs at your party. You kept talking to me about Alexis and how much you liked her and then we’re at your house and you are wearing a dirty wife beater that highlights a buddah belly and stuffing so many pickled eggs in your mouth I have lost count. The biggest industrial pot in the kitchen holds maybe 10 dozen more pickled eggs which I’m sure you’ll consume in 20 minutes and I am scared you might barf them up and really make a bad impression. It makes me want to smack you upside yo’ head. All you’ve got going for you right now is how much Alexis likes Cecilia and that your parties are fun. Flashback to the present - I just went to a happy hour at Meyerson because I am serving what feels like a life sentence on the “Penn Design” alumni board. Penn Design!! why the hell did they change the name of the school?? All I know is when we were there it was the GSFA and the happy hours never held a candle to the parties at your house. It was so weird to be at a happy hour and not see you there somewhere near the keg. Back then, I lived in a 12 x 12 studio apartment on 22^nd and Spruce- Deirdre lived 2 doors down- and Alexis would come over and she was my best friend in the world. I could not have gotten through Penn without her. Any social event without Alexis was unbearable – she was my safety blanket and partner in crime. You were so googly-eyed in love with her (and so were many others) that I was a kinda embarrassed for you. But I’m glad you didn’t listen to me or give up – I was the worst cupid friend ever to you! I should have been singing your praises all along instead of referring to you as special with those hand quotation marks while rolling my eyes!! But the beauty of it was -you two fell in love and it all seemed right. Even though Mike Stifel warned me about dating architects, I did go on to date one for 4 years and then we saw less of each other like we all began to hibernate in relationships. I knew you were both so happy together, I loved when Alexis would talk about you she’d kinda shrug her shoulders up and look down smiling like even she was surprised she fell for you – all I could think while wiping sweat off my forehead was, “phew” now he can stop obsessing about her and I got to see you through her eyes – how much she loved to ride on the motorcycle with you and how she just gushed talking about you. I thought “YOU GOT LUCKY MISTER!”  

I met Chris when he and Alexis first moved to Lakeland, FL to teach at Florida Southern College. Though I got to know him well through my last year, I didn’t get to take a class with him until that summer when our department went to Italy.

The class was my first watercolor class and the last class I needed to finish college and, I have to admit, I was skeptical of what I could do with the medium. It frustrated me a lot, but Chris kept encouraging me to try it on my own and keep doing it. I think sometime during the second week or so it clicked for me and what was at first a medium I thought suited only TV painters and my grandma really worked out for me. I think I painted a bidet or something late at night and bored. But it made sense to me and Chris never flinched at what I brought in or chose to focus on.

This past summer I also had the opportunity to teach a watercolor course in Italy to seven great undergrads. I also had the opportunity to share with them about Chris and what a great experience that time was when we were in Italy. How it opened a new medium that I had, before, kind of passed off. Watercolor is a mainstay in what I do as a painter to this day. I don’t think it would’ve been if it wasn’t for those words of encouragement and instruction from Chris. I’m very thankful for them and for being able to, at the tail end of my undergraduate study, have been taught by him.

When I first met Chris it was when we went to visit him and Alexis at his grandfather’s house in Delaware shortly after they got engaged. I could tell by the way Alexis talked about Chris that they were a perfect match. I remember when we were driving up to meet him that I was a little apprehensive, wondering what he would be like. As soon as I met him I immediately felt comfortable. He was so easy to get along with and friendly. His silly laugh put me at ease. They introduced us to my now favorite summer game-drinking bocce!

Over the years I was so impressed how well Chris cooked. When Alisa and I were visiting them in Florida Chris made a biscuits and gravy-FROM SCRATCH! Which I am still amazed at.

Chris was such a sweet hubby to Alexis, just the way he looked at her you could tell he was completely in love. I will always remember that love and feel lucky to have known him.

I don’t really make friends easily or quickly, but I really began my friendship with Chris months before we actually met when I had dinner with Alexis on my interview for the Sculpture position at UT Tyler.  During that dinner most of the conversation, as I remember it, focused on how much Chris and I had in common, and on at least one occaision, included Chris, via Alexis’ cell phone.  Anyway, I was impressed at how quickly Chris and I became friends once we moved to Texas.  We regularly went to check out several bands, and of course rode our beemers all over, but aside from a kinship through music and transportation, what was it that made Chris and I friends so quickly? There were two qualities about Chris that I truly admired (above and beyond all of his other qualities that made him so special): 1.  He had a wonderful competative streak that never got out of hand, and often time led him and those around him into new and interesting areas, and 2.  He was wonderfully mischievious, and always spontaneous. 

Regarding his spontinaety, one evining, we all went over to another friends house for a get together that eventually led to all of us going down town to the local sports bar to shoot some pool and have some fun.  On the walk home, Chris and I got a little rambunctious and started goofing around with some street signs and creating some low-level havoc until we ended up back at our friends house. While the ladies began to wind down and relax in the living room Chris and I sat in the kitchen of our friend Matt’s house while he was making ramen noodles for the ladies.  As Matt cooked the noodles with his back to us, he bagan sort of goofing off and started to let his pants drop lower and lower until Chris and I started to see more and more of his back side. I just sort of looked over at Chris to see what he thought of the situation, when he just lunged toward Matt with a gigantic full mug of water completly dousing Matts back side.  Chris then turned toward me with this wonderfull open mouth exprssion of “Holy Cow, What was that”.  66% of the people in the room thought that this turn of events was GREAT, and incredibly entertaning.  Right then I knew that I loved Chris.

The second story, that attests to his interesting competetive streak, is about one of the many many times that he and I ended up in his studio shooting darts.  Generally, Chris would beat me at cricket 6 times out of ten, but it was always a great challenge on which we both thrived.  But one evening, early in the game, Chris closed out his 20’s and nailed a bulls with his last dart.  On my first dart, with my 20’s already closed out, I aimed for the bull to protect myself and landed a dart, right in the back of Chris’ dart, kind of Robin Hood style.  Again, Chris’ eyes got wide, and his mouth dropped open, and right there, the competition changed and began to evolve from cricket into a sort of cross between darts and horse.  We spent the rest of the night on the complete opposite side of his studio trying to just hit the board (landing many more in the wall, cieling, empty cans, and other places).  But, by the end of the night, Chris was amazingly good at playing darts from 25 feet.  

In short, Chris was great at whatever  he tried, (darts, fussball, poker, pickeled eggs) and I will always be impressed at how great he was at being my friend.  I miss and always will.

I first met Chris through his artwork while at the Bridgette Mayer gallery.

I loved his work and had bought one of his watercolors and when I was in Florida

Bridgette suggested that I pay Chris a visit. I was a little nervous because we’d

never actually met, but upon arriving I was greeted by a jovial, welcoming guy who

was very eager to spend some time discussing his art and giving me a tour of his

studio. In short is was a great day, and I left not only the happy owner of 3 new

paintings, but with the feeling that I’d made a new friend.

I met Chris at Western Carolina University. He was my brother Allen’s roommate. Over the years, Chris became a brother to Allen, and became an integral part of the Bentley family. Chris had a soul that shined through his eyes, his smile, and the goofiest laugh I ever heard. My dad died in March ‘06 from a six-month battle with cancer. It touched me to no end that Chris flew up from Texas to attend Daddy’s memorial service. The way he took care of my Mom during the service, and afterwards during the reception, helping her, supporting her, caring for her — it was so loving and tender. The way he was a rock for Allen. During the service, he sat beside me with my oldest son on the other side of him. As the service went on, Sam started crying. I looked over to him and started crying myself — Chris had his arms around Sam and was holding him, his cheek on the top of Sam’s head. Sam stopped crying. After the meal, we went home, and for some reason, Chris and Allen, Sam and my younger son Jacob (at the time he was 8 years old) started throwing a football around the back yard. Anything to take our mind off the day, you know? Chris threw the ball across the yard and Jacob fumbled it. Chris looked at me, smiling, then turned quickly when Jacob yelled, “Uncle Chris — catch!” Jacob threw a perfect throw — a little spin on it, straight, a lot of air underneath — Chris had to jump up to catch it. Chris looked at me in shock and said, “Uh…SCHOLARSHIP!!”

 Chris — you will be profoundly missed. You were a part — ARE a part — of our family and will always be so. I will miss your laugh, the way you cared, your gentle spirit. The night I learned you were gone, I felt like I had lost a brother. I did.

 Love you Chris.

Terrie

Last night I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about the day of May 20, 2000. This was a special day because it was Chris and Alexis’ wedding day! I woke up with Alexis and there was excitement just buzzing in the air. Our family headed over to Grandpa Lyon’s house to get dressed in one of the upstairs bedrooms. All of the girls were upstairs, giddy and getting dressed. Mom was putting cute flowers in our hair and we were adding some touches of make-up. Downstairs Chris and his family were anxiously awaiting!

When it was time, I made my way down the stairs with a huge beautiful boquet and waited with Jeff, Drew, Caroline, Lee, Grandpa Lyon, John and Chris. My parents walked Alexis downstairs to Chris who was bursting with excitement–we were ALL just bursting with excitement! (I personally was in between tears of joy and bursts of giggles!)

The vows were said and thankfully it didn’t take long–I don’t think any of us could wait to hear them pronounced as husband and wife!! When they kissed it was passionate and sweet and I think it was almost a challenge because they were smiling soo much.

Afterwards we made toasts to the lucky couple and gorged ourselves on a wonderful huge dinner. That night we celebrated the coming together of two families and the creation of a new family–the Lyon-Serio family.

In remembering Alexis and Chris’ wedding day I can truly feel the intense joy I felt that day for Alexis and Chris–the excitement, the sweetness, the love. I will always hold tightly onto these memories. I do believe that one day tears and sadness fade and these joyous memories will take their place and make us smile again.

At his first art show opening I told Chris that I was responsible for his being here and for the art work on the walls.  If it had not been for me, he would not exist. He looked at me and I told him, “I set up your mother and father on a blind date.”   He laughed and every other opening I attended, I reminded him that I was responsible for the art work on the walls and he would laugh, again. I felt a bond with Chris and Jon that went beyond the relationship of cousin.  I had made a decision years ago on the spur of a moment and, as a result, they came into existence.

I had met Chris after he was grown.  I had left for New York City about the time he was born.  I only heard about him and Jon from his mother and father.  The first time I met Chris I went down to Philadelphia, while he was attending the Art Academy.  He seemed a serious young man with an ability to smile easily.  He lived in a rather rough part of the city, but seemed to be able to survive. 

We mostly met at his openings and would talk in fragments as he was busy with all the work surrounding an opening including mixing and mingling. One time and I believe it was his last show, we drifted away from the gallery and to a deli.  We sat and talked for awhile until he had to get back to the mixing and mingling.  So, it was always too little time, but what there was, I treasure. 

I told him one time that I was studying number theory and he said that he was interested in number theory.  I told him that it was not surprising as we shared some DNA.  He laughed.   I recommended a book to him. I suggested a title for a painting he might do through a telephone conversation with his mother:  “A Polyalphabetic Cipher Gets Down and Dirty.”  I got word back through his mother that he liked it.

And then I had another telephone conversation with his mother on a Sunday.  Chris was gone and they were burying him that afternoon.  And so I would never discuss Billie Holiday with him. 

Chris, you left emptiness in me.

I remember the words W.H. Auden wrote in “Funeral Blues”:

“The stars are not wanted now; put out every one, Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun, Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods; for nothing now can ever come to any good.”

I remember when Chris and Alexis came to Buffalo. They were supposed to stay with me and aunt Diann. However instead they chose to stay with grandma Serio.  At first I thought this was truly strange because grandma Serio was a widow since 1981, and frankly I thought they would be bored. How wrong I had been.  What I didn’t realize at the time was how that act was so profound. My mother was always alone and most surely lonely.  Anyway she made pizza and they played rummy and had such a wonderful time that my mom talked about chris and alexis for months. Afterwards, I realized what a gentle, thoughtful warm person chris was to be so kind to an old lady he hardly knew.