While the world moves on Chris Albin Kaczmarek, MD, 51, of Jamestown, N.Y., passed away at 11:30 a.m. Sunday (July 1, 2012), in his home following a long and coura-geous battle with cancer. His loving family and friends were at his side.
He was born July 25, 1960 in Milwaukee, Wis., a son of Albin and Ardis Kaczmarek.
Chris was a 1978 gradu-ate of Wauwatosa East High School in Wauwatosa, Wis., and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford University in 1982. He received his med-ical degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1986. He completed his residency in psychiatry at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.
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Dr. Kaczmarek practiced psychiatry for the Chautau-qua County Department of Mental Hygiene in James-town, N.Y., for many years.
An avid world traveler and outdoorsman, Chris made many friends world-wide. His love for travel be-gan in high school as an AFS student where he spent a year in Japan. He was ac-tive in many worldwide health organizations, in-cluding 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 or-ganizations including The Reg Lenna Civic Center, Lucille Ball Little Theater, Aids Community Services of Chautauqua County, The Nature Conservancy and the Roger Tory Peter-son Institute.
Chris battled his rare form of cancer bravely and aggressively over the course of six years, con-sistently 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 manage-ment. Through the years we respected and were amazed by his courage and forti-tude.
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 happi-ness 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, Wis; his brotherm Dr. Jack (Penelope) Kaczmarek of Newport, Ore; his sisterm Dr. Nancy (Michael) Ulsch-mid of Elm Grove, Wis.; 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 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the Lind Funeral Home where a time of remem-brance will begin at 7 p.m.
Memorials in memory of Dr. Kaczmarek may be made to GCRF, Gist Cancer Research Fund, 55 Saw Mill Road, New City, NY 10956 or to GLSEN, Gay Lesbian and Straight Edu-cation Network, 90 Broad-street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10004.
You may light a candle in remembrance of Dr. Chris at www. lindfuneral home. com.
