Obituary of Christopher P. Santoro

Christopher Santoro, a brilliant engineer and avid adventurer, passed away on Valentine's Day surrounded by his family at the age of 32. Chris was a truly unique person, who could be at once both confident and humble, serious and witty, honest and kind. He was a wonderful husband, son, brother and friend. Chris earned a bachelor of engineering degree, with high honors, in electrical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, where he was named to Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu honor societies, and joined Chi Psi Fraternity. He also earned a master of science degree in electrical engineering, with a concentration in control and robotics, from Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Brooklyn. Chris worked as a systems engineer with Honeybee Robotics Spacecraft Mechanisms Corporation in Manhattan. Chris loved being part of and learning about the outdoors, evidenced by his passion for foraging, hiking, cliff jumping, climbing trees, snowboarding, gardening, swimming, camping, backpacking, catching frogs and rafting. When forced to stay indoors he enjoyed brewing beer, making hot sauce, avidly reading, snuggling with the Groods, watching cheesy horror flicks, sophisticated humor and genteel conversation. Most of all he enjoyed cooking meals, large and small, for his family, friends and any others he welcomed into his circle. His motto was to commit to all of your actions wholeheartedly because you have just one life to live. Chris, words alone cannot do you justice. The world is a better place because you existed.