Christopher (Chris) Scott Doney, a long-time resident of Norwalk who grew up in Darien, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 21 after a short but brave battle with cancer. He was 72.
Born on Jan. 31, 1946 in Los Angeles, he was the oldest child of the late Raymond Albert Doney and Martha Helen Arbuckle.
Chris grew up in Darien and graduated from Darien High School. He went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in music education from Ithaca College, followed by a master’s degree in music from Western Connecticut State University.
From 1968 to 1971, Chris served in both the 50th Army Band stationed at Fort Monroe, Virginia and the 29th Army Band in Okinawa, Japan.
When Chris returned to the U.S. after serving, he taught instrumental music at Darien High School, Brunswick School, and Greenwich Academy. Chris then worked and retired from the United Parcel Service in Norwalk.
Chris was a gifted professional classical musician who enjoyed performing not only with orchestras but in big bands and concert bands as well. For over 45 years, he played assistant principal trumpet with both the Greenwich Symphony and the Greater Bridgeport Symphony.
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— an obituary from Edward Lawrence Funeral Home
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He also played with the Fairfield Counts, the Connecticut Symphonic Winds and the Hudson Valley Symphonic Wind Ensemble in Tarrytown, New York. Volunteering his services for the organization, Buglers Across America, he played Taps at veterans’ funeral services.
Chris and Christine shared a love of life, family, music, and travel. Their love of music and performing in the area orchestras brought them together initially and was a constant in their marriage.
Spending time with family, driving his beloved Mustang, and traveling and hiking the world with Christine were his greatest joys. His family and friends will miss his laugh that filled a room, his inquisitive nature, his genuine interest in others, the stories he loved to tell, and his lively, larger-than-life spirit.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Christine Carlson Doney and his sister, Megan Doney Weikert of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He adored his extended family of in-laws, nieces, nephews, great nieces/nephews, and cousins across the country and Canada.
A celebration of Christopher’s life will take place at 1 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the First Congregational Church Hall, 108 Sound Beach Ave., Old Greenwich. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Ithaca College Annual Fund for Music (indicate “in memory of Christopher Doney”), Ithaca College, Attn: Gifts Processing, 953 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, or toMusic & Memory, Inc., 17 W. 17th St., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10011.