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Memorial Keepers(2)
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Christopher Drew Smith
May 13th, 1946 - November 1st, 2025
May 13th, 1946 - November 1st, 2025
This is a place for Chris' friends and loved ones to share stories and memories that span his fascinating and accomplished life.
Click here to donate to Chris' team for The Walk to End Alzheimer's
Chris completed his journey with Alzheimers on Saturday, November 1. He slipped away quietly and is now onto his next adventure.
As his wife of 39 years, I was struggling with trying to capture what he has meant to me, and to his many friends, former employees, customers and members of the community.
I asked a few people to share some thoughts on what Chris has meant to them. Here’s what they had to say:
Rebecca Twiss
Chris adored his wife, Doralee. He was smitten with her from the first time they met, and wooed her persistently until she agreed to marry him. Long after they were married, Chris continued to refer to her as his bride, with evident pride in his voice. He felt tremendously grateful that she had stood by him through difficult times.
Chris had a terrific sense of humor which, in combination with his rich variety of life experiences, made him a delightful storyteller. He was a gifted entertainer who brought a lot of laughter into the lives of those who knew him.
For over 40 years, Chris was a professional restau rateur and co-owner of some of our area’s most popular restaurants: Far Side Café, Abruzzi, Plaza Grill and Moonstone Grill. He was known for his graciousness and charm as a host and maitre’d. His high standards, meticulous attention to detail and oft-repeated conviction that “the customer is always right“ were keys to the success of his restaurants. He was dedicated to his profession, bringing his energetic optimism and impressive work ethic to work seven days a week.
He served as a mentor to many of the young people who worked for him over the years, not only teaching them the ins and outs of the restaurant business but offering wisdom and encouragement when they faced personal challenges and were in search of advice.”
Gary Gephart
If you only knew Chris as the Host at Abruzzi or at the Plaza Grill, you would say what a fun and interesting guy he is. But for those like myself, and others who knew him for 45-plus years, he would quickly get into your heart and soul and become a true and dear friend that is truly a blessing. His humanity, compassion and personality will be missed by all who had the opportunity to know him.
Lydia Johnson
Chris’s caregiver
Chris was an absolute joy to be around. We had so much fun just hanging out and being silly. He made me feel like family and I saw first hand that he did that for everyone. We never ran into someone he knew who didn’t love him.
Bill Chino
It was a pleasure knowing and working with Chris for the last 41 years . We were often referred to as “ The Odd Couple,” but we coasted through an argument free, four-decade business relationship. He provided me with more fun and laughs than one is entitled to in a lifetime.
I will be telling stories for years to come. Chris will be missed but never forgotten.
Celebration to come
The whole community was his family and his family was the light of his life.
A celebration of Chris’s life will be held after the holidays.
This webpage is a forever place for Chris' friends and loved ones to share stories and memories that span his fascinating and accomplished life. We miss Chris terribly but remembering the smiles and joy he brought to his employees, the patrons at his restaurants, and his family members, is a salve for the pain we will all endure at the loss of his presence and energy.
This collection of memories is proof of the impact that Chris had on his community, and even the people that merely met him once, as he greeted them at Abruzzi, or the Plaza Grill, or for a sunset dinner at the Moonstone.
Gathering for a meal is one of life's most bonding experiences for us, and Chris made every effort to honor that tradition and instill it in his employees--at every shift. Thank you Chris for sharing your quick wit with all of us and making us laugh. Thank you for making a huge impact on the lives of the people of Northern California.
Thank you Chris for all you gave to us!
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Tributes
Share a favorite memory, send condolences, and honor Christopher’s life with a heartfelt message.
Larry Giddings
I met Chris waaay back in the Vance Log Cabin days, circa 1977, when Rockabilly pompadours were coming into vogue, VJ Martha Quinn graced MTV, and the Commodores and disco ruled the airwaves. At the Vance, you would likely dance to Rick Kellogg and the Grayson Street House Rockers, with Rick's harmonica and Terry Hanck's saxophone resonating in the walls and windows along Eureka's 2nd Street and through the neighborhoods up to the Eureka Steam Baths. On any given night, Larry Lampi and Rolling Bob rocked the Eureka night life and welcomed everyone into Chris's Vance. Freshly discharged from military service, Steve Thompson, Bob Clark, and I, rented an old Victorian on J Street, while we attended what was then Humboldt State. I found work as a cook in Garcia's Mexican Restaurant adjacent to the Jacoby storehouse basement, and I usually made it back to J street at night with five or six dollars in tips. Chris dropped the cover charge at 1 am for the final hour of the night, and the three of us would head down for our "One O'clock Vance," the only way we could afford to get into a club and have money for a pitcher of beer. I did not even think for a minute that this outgoing, welcoming nightclub host and bartender would be much more than just a passing acquaintance, but as Delaney's anecdote illustrates, Chris's magnetism and genuine enjoyment of all aspects of life also impacted me and countless others in profound ways. Gary notes Chris's humanity, and Bill highlights Chris's partnership. In my case both apply. While I never would have predicted it, I met Chris at a crossroads time of my personal development, and Chris served as a mentor who helped me to understand how to honor the responsibility to always strive to do things well while at the same time cherishing friends and experiencing joy in life always. Janet and I (we both worked for and with Chris for many years) left Humboldt County in 1989 or 1990, and we constructed our family life, bolstered by the love and wisdom Chris (and our Humboldt friends) offered freely. We do not go many days without quoting something Chris was wont to say, reminding one another of something Chris did on the job or at play, or honoring a key thing that we learned for Chris: you make life best when you treat people kindly and gracefully, just like you have invited them into your home. I am a much better person for having known, worked with, and lived life with Chris Smith, and like so many others, I have a vacant place in my heart now that he is gone.
Gale Smart
Chris hired me back in the day. The Vance Log Cabin. I was the first female bartender he’d hired. We had so many great laughs. We’d kept in touch off and on throughout the years and I’m grateful for having known him. My condolences to his family
Tim Delaney
One day Chris bounced into work quite full of himself and bubbling with energy. He had in his mind to give us nicknames derived from our names. Tim Delaney became Jaime DeLacroche (his spelling). When I asked what his name was he paused, gave his mustache a quick finger-slash and said “ Sid Plithove here, at your service “. He enriched my life and all those who got to know him.
Patrick Smith
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