- Date Of Birth: September 30, 1986
- Date Of Death: August 22, 2021
- State: Michigan
Christopher T. Nooney passed away Sunday morning, August 22, 2021. Chris was born September 30, 1986, in Kalamazoo.
Chris’ love of sports began at a very early age. He was able to throw a ball when he could barely sit up. During his youth he loved anything sports related; baseball, football, basketball, skateboarding, bike riding and of course – his beloved big wheel, which he rode so much the giant plastic tires were bare. He caused his mother countless moments of panic as he rode as fast as those little legs could pedal, only to stop abruptly so the tires would spin. When he was growing up, he participated in many years of little league, rocket football, and a junior golf league. Every summer, he would spend his days on the golf course – he was very proud of his junior membership.
Chris was not at all excited when he got a baby sister, but it didn’t take long for her to grow on him. He began to jump out behind corners and doors to scream “BOO!” at his younger sibling in an effort to scare her, but alas his effort failed as it made her giggle profusely and provided her a pronounceable nickname that he couldn’t shake off – Boo! It was only a matter of time before he secretly made himself her protector and continued to watch over her as she grew into an adult.
At the ripe old age of 16, Chris was presented with a baby brother, Edward. With such an age difference, things in common were a bit hard to find, but Chris did his good-natured best. One year Santa Claus gave them a joint gift. As it was obviously a sled, Chris wanted nothing to do with it. That is until Edward started tearing off the wrapping paper and Chris saw the wish for 2-iron that was inside the sled. Young Edward was fiercely proud of his big brother and loved being able to do things with him. They went go-kart racing, colored Easter eggs with Grandma, played catch, and the overwhelming favorite went to Disney World.
Since the day he first stepped on the course, Chris was an avid golfer. He loved being a junior member at the local golf course. He won his flight in Louisville, KY while competing in the World Junior Golf Cup, and advanced to the finals that took place at Walt Disney World. In high school, he advanced to the state golf tournament for Loy Norrix as an individual qualifier. While attending Grand Rapids Community College, he advanced to the NJCAA Men’s Golf Championship, also as an individual qualifier. Chris also shared his competitive nature with his family, enjoying many rounds of golf and tournaments with his stepdad, John Fahl (a golfer) and his uncles Mike and Bill. He also suffered through many rounds of golf with his dad (not a golfer).
Chris’ love for sports of course carried over to his favorite teams, being a diehard fan for the University of Michigan and the Detroit Tigers. Regardless of the team, he could still talk about some statistics or famous highlights that he had racked up in his brain. When he was young, one of the highlights of every year was when his Aunt Gloria would take him to a Michigan football game at the Big House. He attended countless Tiger’s games, granting him the opportunity to see some unforgettable playoff moments and meet players such as Miguel Cabrera and Brandon Inge. One year, he won the signed jersey of a Tiger’s player on “Give Us The Shirt Off Your Back Day”. When Grand Valley State University went down to Alabama to compete for the DII National Championship, Chris took this as an opportunity for a road trip – five different times. He also crossed a major item off of his bucket list when he had the opportunity to travel to Philadelphia to attend the Army vs. Navy football game.
He spent the majority of his adult life in the hospitality industry, where he met so many of his beloved friends. He won the bartender championships while working at TGI Friday’s and most recently he was on the opening staff as a bartender at Hopcat in Kalamazoo.
Chris was an incredibly talented cook, a skill he learned from his grandmother when he was very young. They spent many hours talking about the best ways to revise recipes and making fun of his mother for the cooking abilities that clearly skipped a generation. He could create a gourmet meal with just a jar of spaghetti and miscellaneous leftovers – whatever was available.
Chris was never happier than the day that his son Will was born. He shared his love for sports with him at an incredibly early age, taking Will to a Kalamazoo Growlers game when he was only a few months old. You would often find them watching sports together on TV. Recently, he was able to take Will to his first Tiger’s game and taught him how to ride his very own big wheel.
Chris had an overwhelmingly massive heart; he was always there when his friends or family needed anything. He absolutely cherished those who surrounded him.
