Christopher Herbert Bronson, 63, passed from this life on March 3, 2023 at the Cleveland Clinic’s Indian River Hospital in Vero Beach, Florida.
Born on Lajes Air Force Base in the Azores, Christopher traveled around the world with his parents and sisters, living in Massachusetts, Oahu, Georgia, Saigon, Laos, and Florida.
As a young adult, Christopher briefly attended Indian River Community College before moving to Ypsilanti, Michigan. While living there, he met his best friend and the love of his life, Nancy Ann Davis, in February 1979, while they were both working at the Norris Industries Auto Trim Division. Nancy had been working on a burnisher cleaning spokes for tires without safety glasses when Christopher came over to say that she should really wear her safety glasses; in response, Nancy told Christopher to “go to hell.” They soon became close friends and eventually started dating. They got married on April 23, 1983 in Houston, Texas at St. Anne’s Catholic Church.
Christopher began attending the Citadel on a full U.S. Army ROTC scholarship in 1979; he later transferred to Rice University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1983. He served active duty as an Armor Officer in the U.S. Army in 137 Armor, 1st Division, C Company, eventually attaining the rank of First Lieutenant. He and his family lived from 1984 to 1987 on Katterbach Army Base in Ansbach, West Germany.
After his active duty service in West Germany concluded, Christopher and his family moved to Florida, where they lived in various cities including Jupiter, Fort Pierce, Sebastian, and Tampa. After living across Florida for 12 years, they moved to Havertown, Pennsylvania in 1999 for Christopher’s work. They lived in the same house in Pennsylvania for 22 years before returning to Florida and moving to North Hutchinson Island in September 2021.
Over his life, Christopher worked an eclectic variety of jobs including construction at the beach, lifeguard, swimming instructor, Benihana’s busboy, Domino’s delivery man, Walmart shelf-stocker, and furniture salesman. He found success as a financial advisor over the last three decades of his life, working at Mercer Global Advisors, Archetype, and the Philadelphia Group. He established his own company Arete Wealth Advisors in 2017.
Christopher found his greatest joy in life in being a husband to his wife Nancy and a father to his four children, Andrea, Sean, Jessica, and Michael. He was a generous soul, always trying to accommodate the needs of those he loved. He supported and engaged deeply with his family, always providing security, comfort, and friendship. He was always willing to offer advice, whether or not it was asked for. He valued integrity and honesty, and always stressed to his children to do the best you can and to be kind to others. Christopher was a natural leader, capturing the attention of every room he found himself in. He had boundless energy and loved to speak with and meet new people.
Christopher pursued a number of hobbies over his life, including surfing, aikido, swimming, hiking, biking, traveling, exercising, walking, boating, whitewater rafting, and skateboarding. He loved nature and being outdoors in any way he could. He was an avid reader and a lifelong learner, always striving to experience new things and always seeking adventure. He volunteered as Chairman of the Finance Committee of St. Sebastian Parish from 1991 to 1992. He proudly served as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 333 in Florida and Troop 19 in Pennsylvania for eight years and obtained Wood Badge Training. In that capacity, he helped his son Sean achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. He practiced aikido with his son Michael for 15 years, achieving the rank of Sandan (third degree black belt).
Christopher is survived by his wife Nancy Bronson; sisters Mitzi Berry (with husband John) and Carmen Garcia Bronson; children Andrea Bronson (with husband Hazem Zureiqat), Sean Bronson (with wife Camila), Jessica Bronson, and Michael Bronson (with wife Julia); and granddaughters Nora Bronson and Najla Bronson-Zureiqat.
Christopher was predeceased by his father Herbert Everton Bronson, his mother Barbara Ann Carter Bronson, and his beloved dog Hinton.
The funeral service will be held at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, 1655 27th Street, Vero Beach, Florida, 32960 on Saturday, March 18th, 2023 from 10 AM to 12 PM (service beginning at 11 AM).
Memorial contributions may be made to 172 Ocean Estates Drive, Hutchinson Island, Florida, 34949.
“Love is patient and kind is not jealous or boastful arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; does not rejoice at wrong Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things, Love never ends “
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.