Christopher Sidonio Luis

In loving memory of Christopher Luis, who passed away on February 20, 2024. Chris was born in Santiago de Cuba. His family left Cuba at the start of the Revolution in 1960 and settled in New York City. He grew up in the Bronx, NY, where he graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School. He received a B.A. in History from St. John’s University and earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Chris started his career at the United States Chamber of Commerce and later held a number of corporate positions, while growing his family and living on Long Island, NY, and in Connecticut and Chicago, IL, before returning to New York City. Although he eventually left the corporate world, Chris remained driven to succeed professionally. For the last 10 years, he made his home in Sarasota, FL, where he achieved his desire to run his own business, establishing a presence and reputation as a successful mortgage broker. Having grown up in the Bronx, it was only natural that Chris was a lifelong New York Yankees fan. He saw his childhood hero, Mickey Mantle, play in “The House that Ruth Built.” He shared his love of baseball with his son and daughter, taking them to Tampa, FL, to the Yankees Spring Training. As a St. John’s University alumnus, Chris was also a longtime fan of his alma mater’s basketball team. He loved to attend games to cheer on his favorite players, such as Chris Mullin and Mark Jackson, and would frequently entertain his fellow Red Storm fans by taunting the opposing team’s players and coaches. Chris was passionate about animals and plants, and he devoted much of his time to creating a paradisiacal ecosystem to share with them. His love of animals began when he was young, with the two dogs he grew up with, Champy and Chihuahua, and it continued with the animals he adopted into his life and heart as a grown man: Alfonso Soriano (“Rookie”), Mr. Wu, Dory, and Little Ma. He adopted and cared for many cats who needed a loving home, and volunteered his time at Sarasota’s Cat Depot. He was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable fish collector, spending hours maintaining over 350 freshwater fish, who lived in his six fish tanks and two ponds. His garden was a lush, thriving refuge from the busy world, and he spent hours relaxing there, often smoking one of his favorite Cuban cigars and sending hilarious selfies to his children while doing so. Chris was also an avid cyclist. Committed to staying fit, he would bike up to 50 miles at a time, through the busy streets of New York City or along the shoreline of Sarasota. Chris often traveled overseas for work, and he appreciated those opportunities to explore and learn about new cultures. His home was decorated with unique artifacts and artwork from the different cities and countries he had visited. An art and design connoisseur, he enjoyed visiting New York City’s museums, art galleries, and historical landmarks with his children. Chris loved to laugh, and he loved to make other people laugh. He loved to tell stories, often embellishing and exaggerating details for maximum comic effect. He was also a master of physical comedy, and delighted his children and granddaughter with his dramatic antics. His distinctive laugh will be remembered and missed by those who knew and loved him. Chris is survived by his: children, Chiara (Luke), Elisabeth (Henry), and Nicholas (Alexandria); granddaughter, Freya, and grandson-to-be (due May 2024); father, Sidonio; brothers, John and Ralph; and nephews and niece. He is preceded in death by his mother, Irma, and his infant sister, Irma. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, March 2 from 4:00-6:00 pm. We welcome all who would like to come to share stories and memories of Chris. Please contact Elisabeth at (941) 356-5131for details. In lieu of flowers, if desired, you may choose to make a donation to the Cat Depot in Sarasota, at this link: https://catdepot.harnessgiving.org/donate/?selected-method=one-time&amount=25&campaign_id=0

Tributes

Christopher Sidonio Luis

January 6, 1954 - February 20, 2024