Christopher Matthew Nielson-Cerquone

Christopher Matthew Nielson-Cerquone, 63, unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack on the evening of Sunday, December 14th.  

 

Chris was born in Rochester, NY on April 20th, 1962. He attended SUNY Cortland, where he studied Biology and Math. Inspired by his brother Anthony’s stories of working in Yellowstone National Park, Chris took a chance on a summer out West. There, he fell in love not only with Montana, but also with his wife, Robin, who was also working in the park. They quickly knew they were each other’s people, and got married in 1988 in Yellowstone only two years after meeting each other.  

 

They moved to Missoula so Chris could attend graduate school in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana, then to the Bay Area for Robin to attend journalism school, and later to Eugene for a job opportunity. Eventually, they settled back in Missoula, where they raised their two children. Chris and Robin didn’t have an easy go at parenthood. Their firstborn son Perry was born prematurely, faced childhood leukemia, and died from a brain tumor at age 11, all while having and raising their second child, Rosie. Through it all, Chris was a steadfast provider for their family. While the circumstances sound impossible, Chris and Robin provided a childhood filled with joy, love, and laughter to both their children.  

 

Chris was a beloved man in every community he was a part of—in his family, in his work throughout the state of Montana as a respected environmental consultant, and in the University Congregational Church he was an active member of for almost 30 years. He was passionate and dependable, but the things that made people love Chris were his warmth and open-heartedness. Chris could make a friend out of anyone, and he brought kindness and humor to every relationship and interaction, big or small.   

 

Passions and hobbies were not things Chris was short on, but his most prominent ones included being outside and building things. Hunting, boating, camping, fishing, building houses, sheds, you name it… he probably did it, and he probably brought his little dog buddy Wally along. The only thing that made him happier than doing these things was doing them with the people he loved, and then sitting together and sharing stories and laughs at the end of the day.  

 

Chris is survived by his wife he loved so dearly, Robin; his daughter, Rosie, his pride and joy; his three brothers, Anthony, Steven, and David; and his mother, Joanne. Chris is preceded in death by his father, Peter; and his beloved son, Perry.  

 

A memorial will be held for Chris at the Missoula University Congregational Church (UCC), 405 University Ave., Missoula, on Sunday, January 18th, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the UCC for their yard renovation project Chris was heavily involved in, or to Blood Cancer United ,which helped pay for Perry's stem cell transplant.