Chris Sachs

Austin, Texas — Christopher Michael Sachs, formerly of Hanover, died Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, in a tragic boating accident near his home in Austin; he was 65. An outgoing and colorful man of varied interests, Chris maintained throughout his life a devotion to and affection for his family and friends.

Born and raised in Hanover, N.H., he graduated from Hanover High School in 1970 and prior to heading to the University of New Hampshire he worked as a personal assistant to Governor John King. (“That was a misleading title,” he used to explain. “I was actually just a back-up driver and the guy who got him coffee the way he liked it.”) After graduation, he taught first grade in Barre, Vt. for several years; he later claimed that days spent teaching youngsters to read gave him more pleasure than any other professional endeavor. Nonetheless, his professional skills took him in many directions.

Chris emerged from the womb with the gifts of a salesman, and loved finding ways to help clients make good use of the products he knew well. Whether it was time-shares on major mainframe computers, real estate, or the newfangled device called Softbook devised by his younger brother Jim – a contraption that later became the iPad, the Nook and the Kindle – Chris could explain its merits and match its essence to whomever he talked with.

For most of the 21st century, he served as a realtor with JB Goodwin in Austin, where he quickly became recognized for his skills in training others to buy, sell, and lease properties and residential developments.

But he was happiest with his family. Out on the boat, hiking in the Adirondack Mountains, or skiing with friends on the steepest trail within sight of the lift line (“when you look this good, you gotta be seen!”), his exuberance and joie de vivre were his calling card.

Chris is survived by his wife, Kay Clark Gilson Sachs of Austin; daughter Hannah Sachs and granddaughter Willa Grace Sachs of Thetford, Vt.; son Jamie and grandson Quinn Thomas Sachs of Brooklyn; stepdaughter Kelly Gilson Castellano and grandchildren Ava and AJ of San Antonio; stepdaughter Carrie Gilson of Austin; and stepdaughter Kathryn Gilson of Staten Island, N.Y. Other survivors include brothers Rusty Sachs of Norwich; Bob Sachs of Alexandria, Va.; sisters Ann Sachs Morgan of New York City and Patricia Sachs Chess of Mesa, Ariz.; and countless nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother Jim Sachs of Menlo Park, Calif.

A memorial service to which all are invited will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 in the Top of the Hop.