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1928 - 2012
RESIDENT OF LIVERMORE
Christopher Gatrousis, retired Laboratory scientist and longtime resident of Livermore, died February 6 after a long battle with cancer. He was 83 years old.
He was the youngest of five children born to George and Irene (Romeliotou) Gatrousis, Greek immigrants from Plomari on the island of Lesvos. Born and raised in Norwich, Connecticut, Chris graduated from Norwich Free Academy and attended the University of Vermont for two years. At the outbreak of the Korean War he was called to active military duty, where he served stateside as a Marine Corps Drill Instructor at Parris Island, South Carolina. After four years of military service Chris returned to college and earned a B.S. in chemistry from DePaul University, an M.S. from the University of Chicago, and in 1965 a Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry from Clark University in Worcester, MA.
After completing his graduate studies Chris accepted a position at the University of California Radiation Laboratory (now Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), where his early research focused on studies of low-level radioactive fallout in marine environments. His career at LLNL expanded over the years to encompass leadership roles in larger Laboratory research programs, and he served as Associate Director for Chemistry and Materials Sciences from 1985 until his retirement in 1993.
Soon after arriving in Livermore Chris became active in civic activities, and he served on the city's Beautification Committee and worked with other groups on local and regional planning issues. He actively campaigned for his friend and scientific colleague Don Miller as Miller ran for Livermore City Council and Mayor, and he supported other candidates for city and regional offices who shared his vision for growth in the city and the Livermore valley.
Chris is survived by his wife, Veronica; stepson, Nicholas Lanier (Monique Morin); daughters, Carina and Rebecca in New Mexico; and stepdaughter, Catherine Lanier Hazlip (Matthew) and daughters, Jenna and Lindsey in Missouri; sisters, Despina Condos (Bill) in Massachusetts and Victoria Wilk in Connecticut; and by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and their families. He was preceded in death by his son, John Gatrousis, and by sisters Mary Luty and Steffa Christopher.
A Trisagion will be held at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Christian Church in Stockton on Monday, February 13, at 7:30 PM, followed by coffee and light refreshments in the Parish Hall. His funeral will be held at St. Basil on Tuesday, February 14, at 11 AM, with burial on Tuesday afternoon in St. Michael Cemetery in Livermore. Final arrangements are entrusted to Holy Angels/St. Michael Funeral Center in Livermore.
Chris was an active and long-time supporter of many charitable organizations, and in lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations to ValleyCare Foundation in Livermore or to Valley Humane Society in Pleasanton.