Dr. Christopher Unger, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, died quietly at the Southeast Volusia Hospice Care Center on January 3, 2012. He had just celebrated his 64th birthday on December 25, 2011 having been born to Olga and Quentin Unger on that day in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1947. Chris was an incredibly proud father, husband, brother, Eagle Scout, child advocate, poet, author, and seeker of interesting things. He was a garage sale regular and his passion for music earned him the nickname “The Record Man”. Chris was preceded in death by his mother, Olga. He is survived by his wife Nancy of New Smyrna Beach, son Josh of Boise, Idaho, brother Peter (Sue), nephew Wes, and niece Elaine of Pinckney Michigan, brother Tim, (Rene), of Menlo Park, California, and his father Quentin of Port Orange, Florida. Chris earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York and received his PhD in Education and Psychology from the University of Michigan. He wrote a book published in 1977 entitled Chaos, Madness, and Unpredictability..Placing the Child With Ears Like Uncle Harry’s (The Spaulding Approach to Adoption), important in the field of child welfare as the first written documentation of skills needed to find permanent homes for children with special needs. He worked as a foster licensing consultant for the State of Michigan, and then became a litigation consultant in Foster Care and Adoption. Chris had a great sense of humor and was a very special, unique, creative person who loved his family. He willingly helped anyone in need, lived for the thrill of discovery, and made a significant difference in many children’s lives through his advocacy on their behalf. A celebration to honor Chris will be held in the summer when friends can gather from near and far. Donations may be made in Chris’s honor to Spaulding for Children, 16250 Northland Dr., Suite 120, Southfield, Michigan 48075 and Children’s Cancer Foundation, Inc., 451 E. Graves Avenue, Orange City, Florida 32763.
I will miss him.