It is difficult for us to announce that Christopher Daniel Kenny’s life ended on October 1, 2024. He leaves behind his wife Lisa, daughter Violet, parents Paul and Nancy, aunts, uncles and cousins, and numerous friends from all phases of his life. His last act was as an organ donor, and his gift of life to others was honored in person by close friends and family while listening to “Big Rock Candy Mountain,” a song Chris often enjoyed with Violet.

Chris grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from Piedmont High School and the University of California – Santa Barbara, which is where he met his wife, Lisa. They married in 2014 at San Francisco City Hall, and built a life for themselves in the East Bay, moving to Seattle in 2018. Three years later they welcomed their daughter Violet into the world.

Creative, clever, funny, and bold, people were drawn to Chris. He was a leader throughout his life, whether it was on the playground inventing games, as an Eagle Scout, or as a leader on the varsity water polo team at PHS. A hard worker, after graduating with a Political Science degree from UCSB, Chris parlayed a temp worker gig on the night shift at Chevron into a highly successful career in tech, most recently with Charles Schwab.

Chris had a passion for exploration and the outdoors, which he pursued by camping, hiking and backpacking, as well as his college year abroad studying in Budapest and exploring Europe. He shared this passion with Lisa and Violet, and he spent his final days in the place where he felt most at peace – in the woods, beaches and mountains of the Olympic Peninsula.

The surname Kenny is of Irish origin and can be translated to “born of fire” or “ardent love.” Those close to Chris can attest that he fully embodied these traits. From his strongly held beliefs to his personal interactions, he carried a fire in his heart that he desperately wished to share with the world.

Chris, you were deeply loved and will be profoundly missed. Though your fire has gone out, those close to you will always carry the warmth of your memory.

A celebration of life will be scheduled for the Spring of 2025.