Christopher Stockham Gibbs

Christopher Stockham Gibbs, of Chatham, Massachusetts, passed away on Saturday, November 7, 2026, after a brief illness. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Chris grew up in Granby, Connecticut, where he developed the curiosity, creativity, and love of learning that would remain with him throughout his life.

Chris attended Suffield Academy for his freshman and sophomore years before continuing his education at Granby Memorial High School, where he graduated in 1995. He went on to attend the University of New Hampshire, graduating in 1999 with a degree in English Literature. Chris began his professional career in advertising sales at the Burlington Free Press and the Boston Phoenix before making Chatham, Massachusetts, his permanent home where he would go on to pursue his passion for aerial photography.

Chris found art everywhere he looked. Endlessly curious and passionate about exploring new ideas and perspectives, he combined his lifelong love of aviation and art through aerial photography. He became an FAA Certified Remote Pilot and founded his drone photography business, Renegade Airlines. His work took him on road trips far and wide, accompanied by his fleet of drones, as he reveled in capturing extraordinary perspectives and revealing beauty that might otherwise have gone unseen. He treasured the people he met along the way, as well as the stories and images he brought home. His love for Cape Cod and his artistic vision were beautifully captured in his published book, Art from Above – Cape Cod, released by Schiffer Publishing.

Brilliant, kindhearted, and blessed with a wonderful sense of humor and a natural gift for storytelling, Chris was a man of remarkable talents and wide-ranging interests.

An Eagle Scout who loved his country, Chris valued loyalty, friendship, and service to others. He was a devoted student of history and ancestry, fascinated by the stories of the past and the connections that bind generations together.

He had an extraordinary gift for writing, with an ability to capture the heart of a thought or feeling with an eloquence that was uniquely his. His words could inspire, comfort, amuse, and move people, often all at once. He possessed that same rare gift in conversation, connecting with others in ways that left them feeling not only heard, but truly known.

A gifted musician and songwriter, Chris wrote and recorded his own original songs. He leaves behind a rich collection of recordings, including countless tracks preserved on tape and his album, As the Day Is Long. His music reflects the depth of his soul, his creative spirit, and his thoughtful reflections on life.

The ocean held a special place in Chris's heart. Throughout his life, he called Chatham, Massachusetts, home—a place deeply connected to his love of the sea. A certified scuba diver who loved boating and fishing, Chris found joy and adventure both on and beneath the water. His lifelong ties to Chatham and the ocean remained an enduring part of who he was.

To those who knew him, Chris was much more than the sum of his many talents. He was the person friends and family turned to for answers, advice, perspective, or simply a good laugh. Often described as their “phone-a-friend” or the “guy they’d want in their foxhole,” Chris was someone people could count on—a trusted friend whose intelligence, humor, and kindness left a lasting impression. He will be dearly missed by so many.

The stories he told, the music he made, the beauty he captured, and the lives he touched will remain his enduring legacy.

Chris leaves behind his loving mother, Elaine Bjorhus Gibbs, of Chatham, Massachusetts; his adoring sister, Alexandra Wittmann, and her husband, David Wittmann, of Reading, Massachusetts; and his cherished nephew and nieces, Teddy, Finley, and Edith, to whom he was a beloved uncle. He also leaves behind his uncle Raymond French of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; his cousin Elizabeth (French) King and her husband, Jason King, of Portland, Oregon; his cousin Douglas French, of Portland, Oregon; and many other cherished cousins.

Chris was predeceased by his father, Jeffrey Stockham Gibbs; his grandparents, Robert Einar Bjorhus and Elizabeth Hayes Bjorhus; his aunt, Elizabeth Anne (Bjorhus) French, and his uncle, Robert Einar Bjorhus, Jr., each of whom he loved deeply and who held an enduring place in his heart.

Funeral Service

A service celebrating Chris's life will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Chatham, Massachusetts (625 Main Street). Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance of Chris and to honor the many ways he touched their lives.

Memorial Contributions

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Christopher Stockham Gibbs Memorial Foundation, which is being established in his honor. Through this fund, the family hopes to honor Chris' legacy by supporting charitable organizations and causes that reflect the things he cared about most. Contributions can be sent to McLane Middleton, c/o David Wittmann, 300 TradeCenter, Suite 7000, Woburn, MA 01801.