Obituary of Chris Albin Kaczmarek

While the world moves on. Chris Albin Kaczmarek, MD, age 51, of Jamestown, NY passed away at 11:30 a.m. Sunday (July 1, 2012) in his home following a long and courageous battle with cancer. His loving family and friends were at his side. He was born July 25, 1960 in Milwaukee, WI a son of Albin and Ardis Kaczmarek. Chris was a 1978 graduate of Wauwatosa East High School in Wauwatosa, WI and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford University in 1982. He received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1986. He completed his residency in Psychiatry at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. Dr. Kaczmarek practiced Psychiatry for the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene in Jamestown, NY for many years. An avid world traveler and outdoorsman, Chris made many friends worldwide. His love for travel began in high school as an AFS student where he spent a year in Japan. He was active in many worldwide health organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, The Gay Men's Health Crisis, Aids Relief for Africa and the Human Rights Campaign. Chris was also a strong supporter of local foundations and organizations including The Reg Lenna Civic Center, Lucille Ball Little Theater, Aids Community Services of Chautauqua County, The Nature Conservancy and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. Chris battled his rare form of cancer bravely and aggressively over the course of six years, consistently leaning into life as he participated in many clinical trials. While his friends and family were supports to him throughout his difficult final chapters, Chris is to be admired for shouldering the major share of his own care management. Through the years we respected and were amazed by his courage and fortitude. He was a good son, a good brother, a good friend, gentle and generous beyond measure. We will be forever thankful to him for this and for the happiness and pride he brought to all whose lives he touched. May Chris's kind and loving example live on as inspiration to all of us. Surviving are his parents Albin and Ardis Kaczmarek of Wauwatosa, WI, his brother Dr. Jack (Penelope) Kaczmarek of Newport, OR, his sister Dr. Nancy (Michael) Ulschmid of Elm Grove, WI, his nieces Avery Ulschmid and Mawr Spiro and nephews Caden and Carter Ulschmid and Alexander Spiro. Chris will be sorely missed by many friends and colleagues including Cory Thompson and Scott Wiedrich. Friends will be received from 4-7 p.m. Thursday in the Lind Funeral Home where a time of remembrance will begin at 7 p.m. Memorials in memory of Dr. Kaczmarek may be made to, GCRF, Gist Cancer Research Fund, 55 Saw Mill Rd. New City, NY 10956 or to GLSEN, Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 90 Broadstreet, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10004.