Christopher William Godfrey

Christopher William Godfrey, beloved father, esteemed doctor, and pirate cookie enthusiast, passed away peacefully at dawn on July 20, 2024, at the Calgary Foothills Hospital, surrounded by family.

Chris was born just before midnight on September 15, 1949, in Amsterdam. His mother, Pia, survived World War II in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Indonesia, while his father, Denis, was a writer and professor of English literature. Shortly after Christopher's birth, they made the long and arduous sea and train voyage to Edmonton, where Denis had taken a teaching position at the University of Alberta. Chris grew up alongside his brothers Tony and Mark in Edmonton, and enjoyed a happy upbringing until the tragic death of his brother Tony in a hiking accident at age 20.

Chris' career as an emergency physician took him on a circuitous route, from several hospitals in Calgary, a short stint in Bermuda, then over a decade in the Middle East, with time spent in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Chris' medical career came full circle when he returned to Calgary to work for many years before retiring.  

Beyond his professional achievements, his greatest joy was his family. Chris cherished every moment spent with his daughter Glenna, her husband Kristopher, and their children Kaia and Jack, as well as his son Evan and his wife Adriene. His love and support extended to his ex-wife Sue, his brother Mark, and sister-in-law Mevalyn. He never missed an opportunity to walk his grandkids to school, watch his children or grandchildren play sports, or even drive a family member to the airport at some ungodly hour. The important thing was spending time together, whatever the circumstances.

Chris treasured spending time with his friends and family outdoors. He enjoyed skiing, often at a speed that made his daughter nervous. He loved hiking and completed the Camino de Santiago later in life. He also enjoyed biking along the rivers of Calgary and the trails of Kananaskis.

In addition to his professional and personal pursuits, his altruistic spirit led him to volunteer on aid missions to Haiti and Africa. He also traveled extensively, with yearly trips to Europe, where he loved exploring historical sites and strolling through art museums and cathedrals.

Chris will be missed terribly by all who had the privilege of knowing him. He was a special person who enjoyed helping others. In the final weeks of his life, he was well known to all the other patients in his ward because he walked around, struck up conversations, listened to their life stories, and told jokes. 

An intimate gathering of his close friends and family will take place at a later date. His ashes will be scattered in his "happy place," the Rocky Mountains. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Ride to Cure Cancer, an event that he enjoyed participating in. https://2024.touralbertaforcancer.ca/  [click “Donate” and then click on “Dedicate my donation in memory of someone”]