Christopher C. Bumstead

Christopher Clark Bumstead, 59, collapsed suddenly and died at home in Brattleboro on October 30th, four days before he was scheduled for surgery at Dartmouth Hitchcock. He had been ill for several months.

Chris was born in Hartford, Connecticut on July 18, 1957. He attended public schools in Connecticut, New York City, and Vermont; his family moved to Brattleboro in 1970. He graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1975 and went on to the University of Vermont for a political science degree. Chris was an exchange student his sophomore year and studied in France at a college prep lycee in Strasbourg. Chris continued playing tennis his last two years of high school; he was ranked 7th in the state for men's singles; he lost in the state finals.

Chris enjoyed vacations on Martha's Vineyard from age six. He worked there for a full year during college. He was drawn to surf casting for Striped Bass and Bluefish. Once, he lost the yearly Chappaquiddick competition to a woman; his 57 lb. fish was a couple ounces short.

Chris considered teaching high school history or going for a law degree. But he was drawn to remodeling and new housing and worked in Brattleboro area for more than 25 years. He was gregarious, talkative, an insatiable reader; he loved politics and literature. He also enjoyed deep discussions and debate on almost any literary or political topic. During his life, he made many friends who describe him as "a great guy, best friend to all".

Chris's father Donald F. Clark died when he was only three.

He leaves his mother, Joan Bumstead Allen of Middlebury, his brother Kevin, his step-father Edward L. Allen, three step-sisters, Pamela Allen of Pheonix, AZ, Melody Allen of Brainbridge Island, WA, and Heather Edenhofer of Flagstaff, AZ. He also leaves two nieces and three aunts, Dorothy Clark, Margery Clark, and Anne Rome, and many cousins in Connecticut; and a special cousin, Holly Nicolle in Huntington, VT. Chris leaves a close-knit group of college friends, who still met each year for a game of golf, and large group of friends in the Brattleboro area.

A memorial service of Chris's life will be held at the Putney Meeting house in Putney, Vermont, on Saturday, November 19th, at 2:30. All are Welcome. Please no flowers or gifts just come and share your memories.