Chris was a man who was big, bold, and full of love. Breaking social norms everywhere he went, Chris could not pass up the chance to strike up a conversation and connect with people. Some who’d met him only once described him as “that friendly guy.” He always had an art for cultivating friendships with people near and far, and never held back from sharing a big hug, a genuine smile, or an invitation to visit his home. Chris lived with a sense of abundance and possibility that is rare in this world, and all of us who knew and loved him are so much the better for it.
Chris Casebeer was born on September 16, 1946, to Julie and Arthur Casebeer in Altadena, California. Childhood with his older brother, Paul, was marked by summers in Laguna Beach visiting their grandparents and beginning a lifelong love of the beach and bodysurfing. As a teen, Chris learned to play volleyball from the lifeguards. College brought him to UC Santa Barbara.
He played on the indoor Gaucho volleyball team, which won the National Collegiate Championship in 1969, and became a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity. He forged a lifelong love of volleyball and many enduring friendships in those days. As a Gaucho, Chris was “all-in,” as he also proved to be with life after college. He was a hard worker and great teammate. He was greatly respected, even though he could be a bit goofy at times. Chris had an incredible ability to jump — his teammates and coach, Dennis Berg, thought it might have contributed to bouts of dizziness — but a knee injury kept him in the back row his senior year. Determination and a positive attitude allowed him to contribute significantly to that National Collegiate Championship victory. Once he moved on to the beach game, with Dan Berry and others, he became extremely proficient at “bump setting” before it was fashionable. That skill enabled him to make great strides and advance through the B, A, and AA rankings.
