To know Konrad Catolos is to love him. My name is Diane Samples and I have loved Konrad as my "brother from another mother" for fifty years.

Maybe you first met Konrad as the mischievous, big-hearted kid in Los Gatos, lighting up the halls of Union Junior High or getting up to all sorts of shenanigans at Leigh High School. Or maybe you crossed paths during the wild Chico college years, swapped stories over beers in Germany, studied with him at culinary school or shared a laugh and a meal during his culinary career adventures across the country. You might know him from his North Carolina days or perhaps Vail, or the NYC Era. You might have paddled beside him off the coast of Monterey, Santa Cruz, or Santa Barbara, or simply been pulled into his orbit through his infectious energy, deep compassion, and one-of-a-kind spirit.

However you know Konrad, chances are he made an impression, and left you smiling.

Now, the man who has brought so much joy and color into our lives needs us. We are his village and we need to show up for him now.

Konrad has been diagnosed with Stage 4 inoperable pancreatic cancer, a merciless and unpredictable disease. While doctors have given him six month to two years, Konrad’s focus isn’t on counting the days but on making each one count.

His wish is simple but powerful: to live these remaining months with purpose, freedom, and joy, especially with his beloved daughter, Gabi, by his side.

He dreams of paddling in the warm Hawaiian waters, visiting sacred spiritual locations across the islands, communing with the sea and its wildlife, and spending an evening on Mauna Kea gazing at the stars. He wants to head north to Alaska to witness the Northern Lights in all their glory and maybe experience fly fishing on a beautiful river with stunning views. And, true to who he is, Konrad wants to host one unforgettable celebration, a living tribute filled with laughter, love, and music, rather than have us all gather after his transition back to stardust.

But alongside these dreams, there are real-world challenges: rent, groceries, medical bills, and the day-to-day costs of living that don’t stop just because life has thrown this brutal curveball.

That’s why this GoFundMe exists.

Let’s rally around Konrad the way he has shown up for so many of us, with wild stories, open arms, and unwavering loyalty. Let’s give him the gift of peace and possibility. Let’s help him spend his final chapter fully alive, with Gabi, with all of us, and with the wide, wild world he still wants to experience.

Please give what you can. Share this with friends of friends and family. And hold Konrad in your heart as he makes the most of every moment left.

Because he wouldn’t have it any other way.