Christopher "Chris" Budech

Chris was an amazing person, a one of a kind. His standout qualities were his sense of humor, his quick wit, his thirst for knowledge, and his ability to talk to anyone no matter what walk of life they came from. He was a communicator. He easily made new friends but more importantly he kept in touch with his family and his lifelong friends, of which he had many.

Chris grew up in Oakland, California with his mother, Anna, and father, Christie. He had two sisters, one 20 years older, Christiana Budech, and one 10 years older, Glorianna Chumo (Peter M. Chumo). He grew up with his nieces, Donna Fletcher (Peter Fletcher), and Diana Toutjian, who were more like his sisters. They often lived together in Chris’ parents’ homes. He felt close to his nephew, Peter Nicholas Chumo II. He had cousins in Napa, California, Stefania Parks and Reginald Parks, and Stuart Butterfield (Margaret Anne Butterfield) in Delaware.

Chris’ family was very involved with the Serbian American community in Oakland. He attended St. George Serbian Orthodox Church and during the summers attended the St. Sava Serbian camp in Jackson, California. He became a camp counselor there and was in a Tamburica music group.

Chris’ older sister, Christiana, was a product of the 40’s swing era, his sister, Glorianna, was a product of the 50’s with Elvis Presley, and Chris was a true product of the 60’s living in the Bay area and attending UC Berkeley.

Chris was always close to his mom. He used to meet her after she got off of work at Capwell’s department store in downtown Oakland where she sold gloves and they would go to dinner and a movie. They even took the Greyhound bus from Oakland to New York for the World’s Fair in 1964. Story is that they stopped at so many Serbian community activities along the way that by the time they got to the Fair, it was closing. Chris inherited his mother’s artistic flair and her shopping prowess. He would take his mom to flea markets where they would sell items together. He even got his dog, Dunya, at a flea market. I never knew Chris to pay full price for anything. Anna came to live with Chris and his family in Seattle when she was 88 years old until she died in her sleep at 94.

Chris was an adoring father. I think it was because he never lost the child in him. He was the one who took the kids trick or treating, after a stop at Mike and Molly’s to show off their costumes. He is the one who took them on the scary walk at night when we stayed at Blissful Cottage in Fort Worden, Port Townsend every January for his birthday. He is the one who bought them every Grateful Dead bear and Space Jam character. He also introduced them to the Beatles at a young age with the Looney Tune characters singing Beatle songs CD. I still laugh to myself hearing Elmer Fudd singing Fool on the Hill with his stuttering lisping diction.

Chris loved to tell the story of his ancestors and their journey from Mojdez, Herceg Novi, Montenegro to Butte, Montana to work in the coal mines in the late 1800’s. His ancestors were from the coast of Montenegro, an area they refer to as Boka Kotorska. In his twenties, Chris traveled Europe with his guitar on his back and ended up in Herceg Novi where he connected with his family. While he was there, he attended a school to study the language more extensively beyond what he studied at UC Berekley and what he picked up at home growing up. He kept in touch with his family and in 2002 he made another trip to Europe, ending again in Montenegro but this time with his family; son, Krsto, daughter, Keiko, wife, Mary Jane, and mother in law, Amy. He was immensely pleased to have the connection continued by introducing his children to his European family. Later he would sponsor one of his cousins to become a US citizen. He took his final trip to Herceg Novi and stayed for a month in the spring of 2023 to reconnect with his family one last time.

There are many stories of Chris growing up in the Bay Area. He had many cars, most notably his Triumph TR-3, Volvo PV 544, and Citroen DS Pallas. Of course they were all used and had seen their better days but memories were made, driving up the coast road to Pt. Reyes and beyond. He drove to Alaska in a VW bus with his friend, Shahe, living off the land.

Chris not only loved music and played the guitar, but was always reading, learning and listening to a wide variety of musicians and genres. It was his passion. He attended many concerts at the Filmore and other venues during the time he lived in the Bay Area. His musical taste was all over the map, from roots blues and folk to jazz, soul, rhythm and blues, country bluegrass, rock and indie. He told me the first LP record he bought was Ry Cooder. He started a music club called the Spinning Discs. They would bring a song or album to listen to and talk about. Chris would provide snacks from Trader Joes and presto, a book club for music lovers.

Chris had so many interests; Fly fishing, bird watching, gardening, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, golfing, watercolors, gardening, travel, backpacking, bike riding, reading, following the Mariners, and more.

For the last twenty years or more Chris became involved with the Magnuson Pea Patch. His home was located in a Western Red Cedar grove with little sun. He tried growing vegetables on the roof but it made more sense to grow vegetables at the Pea Patch. He would start his plants in his garage in March and for the rest of the season, he was at the Pea Patch getting dirty, planting, harvesting and talking to his fellow gardeners. It was a community. He became the food bank coordinator and donated thousands of pounds of food to the local food banks during his time. 

We are collected funds to help establish a dedicated bench in his memory and support memorial services - a lasting tribute to honor his life and provide a peaceful place of remembrance. The bench will be installed at the Magnuson Pea Patch, his special place. We want to make sure people can visit and spend time with Chris there, enjoying the birds, the spring blooms, the summer veggies. Any left over funds will be donated to the Magnuson Pea Patch, Cancer research, and the St. Sava Serbian summer camp. Contribute here.