Castle Island Memorial for Christopher Pinnix

 

Chris passed away only five weeks after finding out he had colon cancer. He had no signs, symptoms, or family history. He had turned 52, and his doctors said, “you’re that age; you should be checked.” Who would have thought that a routine colonoscopy would change the rest of your life?

 

When someone you love passes away, and you live far from where you grew up, it already makes things tough. There are so many things to think about. One is where will their final resting spot be? As much as we loved living in New Jersey, it was not HOME to us. So, I knew we could not lay him to rest there. We were born and raised in Boston, and it will always hold a special place in our hearts. However, the problem became that if I buried him in a cemetery in Massachusetts, I would not be able to see him all the time. We talked about what his final wishes were. He knew he would be cremated and was ok with that, but he does not have a place where he can be remembered. As a family, we were thinking about a way to honor and memorialize him.

 

Castle Island in South Boston has always been a special place to us. When we first started dating, we would go there to walk around the fort. Grab some onion rings and shakes from Sully’s. We would watch the planes come in and wonder where life would take us. Then, on April 1st, 1987, Chris asked me to marry him along the bay. Over the years, when we found our way back to the area, it always included a stop there. The girls would play in the park; we watched the tall ships come in and had many long walks. When we spread some of Chris’ ashes at Castle Island in November, we noticed memorial benches along the beach and Sugar Bowl.

 

Getting a memorial plaque on a bench at Castle Island would mean so much to our family. It would be the best way that I can think of to honor such a great person and Southie boy at heart.

 

We were married for 34 years, together 35. I was a 17-year-old girl who fell in love when I was not looking for it. Both with a person and a place.

 

The Plaque will read:

"A place to sit, remember, and enjoy an ice cream cone."

In loving memory of

Christopher Pinnix

12/10/68 - 10/11/21

Husband, Father, Gramp, and Friend

Thank you,

Cindy Pinnix