A message from Linda Hughes Malyj

My memories of the Cello family span more than 50 years from the time
my family moved to K Street in Davis, around the corner from my first
baby-sitting customers...the Cello kids. Our parents were all best
friends and Kris, the oldest, was only three years younger than me so
we were more friends than anything. One night at a Cello-hosted party
Kris, Phil and I were in the back yard and we were trying out smoking
techniques. Bob Cello came out and caught us and told me I should know
better, and then made Kris and Phil smoke until they were green. Kris
never said uncle, but he told me later he hated smoking after that.

In junior high and high school Kris was enough behind me that I didn't
see much of him except when our families got together for barbeques and
such. I knew he was a fine athlete because my dad gave accounts of his
football accomplishments, and he loved to play tennis doubles with
Kris, Phil, he and Bob. Kris was very competitive, but didn't have the
temper that Phil did, so his racquets stayed in better shape.

Sometimes when his mom and my mom were visiting I'd hear that Kris had
a serious relationship going with a girl named Kathy. There was both
relief and concern on the adult's part...the first because Kathy was
such a terrific girl and the second because they were so mutually
smitten. Later when Kris and Kathy broke up for awhile there was
resignation and immense regret. Their reunion was welcomed by all the
family, and their marriage celebrated as a sure sign that Kris was on
the right life track....an insight that turned out to be entirely
accurate.

During college and their Alaska years I mostly heard about Kris and
Kathy from family. When they came back, Irene was thrilled to have them
home and well employed. Of course, Bob thought Kris should use his
college education for something besides the construction business. It
was only much later that he finally understood the tremendous success
that Kris achieved through the application of his talents and his
remarkable character. Several times before he died Bob commented to me
that he should have understood what Kris was doing sooner but that he'd
been too focused on academia to "get it". He was very proud, and he
was also tremendously pleased that Kris was such a terrific dad and
generous man. Of course, Kris was both self-made and a combination of
his parents. Irene was leggy, tall and artistic with a gentle, graceful
way that drew people to her. Bob looked more like a bandy legged
street fighter than an eminent professor. He was musically talented
and was intense, stubborn, brilliant, and crusty on the outside. Kris
had all the drive and talent, and he showed his gentle side
easily...much like his mom.

My husband and I would see Kris and Kathy casually from time to time
when Ryan and Michael were kids, and they were always so tremendously
proud of those boys. Later, as Ryan was approaching college graduation
Kris and Kathy asked me to talk to him about internship and career
opportunities, which were my professional focus, and I was pleased to
have the chance. That brought Kris and Kathy and Wasyl and I into more
regular contact and we rediscovered how much we enjoyed one another. I
was astounded to hear (with considerable prodding on my part) what Kris
was actually doing in his construction business - his work was
certainly far beyond that of anyone I knew. There is no doubt in my
mind that he and his partner were at the top of California's
construction business, though he'd never say that.

During the dinners we shared over the last decade plus, Kris talked
often about the importance of his family and how much he valued his
marriage. We talked about how lucky both of us were to have married
true partners and shared a life rich in intimate friendship. Once Kris
commented that he didn't understand why for some people it was hard to
say I love you....something he said to Kathy every day. A little wine
helped the conversation flow. They had plenty of difficulties with the
many responsibilities and hard work they shared, but they also knew how
to have fun - something that Kris could really throw himself into. I
know he also liked to take a ride on his motorcycle to enjoy the
countryside and appreciate the wind in his face. He was a lover of
nature as well as friends. And Kathy was his greatest support as well
as the love of his life. Kris could easily show his emotions and
sometimes his eyes would tear with the pleasure he took in his world in
spite of the tremendous back pain he endured quietly through many years.

In my experience Kris was one of the exceptional special people who
live beyond the limits of ordinariness while always seeming like a
regular guy. Kathy and his boys were clearly a gift in his view, and
worth every determined step he took. His generosity came naturally
along with his philosophical perspectives. He was a rare one in the
very best sense and I will miss him.

Linda Hughes Malyj