Christopher Joseph Van Vorse

Gloversville, NY-Christopher J. Van Vorse, born on 12/23/58 in Albany, NY passed away, peacefully, with his family by his side on 1/25/25 in Schenectady, NY after a short illness. To truly understand the life of Chris is to understand what it means to live a life full of love, laughter, fun and joy. Chris was a ball of energy right from the time he was born. His childhood was one lived outdoors playing with friends and family, riding bikes and enjoying all the hijinks that a boy gets up to. Chris graduated from Albany High School in 1977 and then attended the State University at Albany. His career took off working for the State of New York for many decades in various agencies. The highlight of his work life was when he was Grants Manager at the Department of Parks and Recreation. There he was able to combine his hard work ethic with travel to the outdoors all over the state of New York. When the terror attacks happened in September of 2001, he immediately volunteered to be deployed to Ground Zero to assist with the hard work of helping to make the survivors and our nation whole. Although he loved his work for NYS, he also combined his jovial and welcoming nature with the art of bartending. He was a well-known part-time barkeep at the Griffin and at Ralph’s Tavern. Every customer became a friend and was embraced by his loving spirit. He loved to sing (he especially loved Journey) and dance and took every opportunity to make every night a memorable one for all. We can’t forget how much he loved his Pittsburgh Steelers. Win or lose, he was their biggest fan! In the late 1990’s, Chris and his mom helped his sister move across the country to start school in California. That weeklong trip, in a rented U-Haul, was full of memorable moments (from the jump-seat jail to a biblical Arizonian dust storm) that his family will cherish always. In his 40’s, Chris was thrilled to embark on the journey of fatherhood. He loved his daughter as well as he could. Over the years, Chris dealt with some health challenges. Throughout it all, he maintained his upbeat outlook. Chris had a ferocious and infectious laugh. You could hear it a mile away and knew that the owner of that laugh was someone you wanted to meet. Chris is survived by his beloved mother, Rosemary Van Slyke, his daughter, Olivia Marie Van Vorse, his sister Rosemary (Julian) Van Erlach and Elizabeth (George) Hudson, his nephew Cole, many cousins and an aunt. Chris was especially close to his cousin, Jo-Ann Van Slyke, as they shared a common verve and love of life. Chris has so many dear friends who he leaves behind, but especially was grateful for the long friendship of Joe Grimaldi. Chris found true love towards the end of his life in his partner Michele Merwitz; he will miss her so. The family would especially like to thank the ICU nurses (Sarah and Chris) and Chaplains at Ellis Hospital for their excellent care of Chris in his final days. Truly they are angels on Earth. We will miss our Sonny Boy/Brissen more than words can say. He was always his mother’s sunshine. Donations can be made to the American Lung Association in his name. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Christopher’s family Friday, January 31, 2025 10:30 am to 12:00 pm at McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 North Allen Street, Albany, NY 12206. His Funeral Service will follow at 12:00 pm. Please enter the funeral home from the rear parking lot entrance only. To leave a message for the family please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com

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Christopher Joseph Van Vorse

December 23, 1958 - January 25, 2025