Christoper M. Patti
April 4, 1958 - August 27, 2017
Christopher (Chris) Patti died on August 27, 2017, at the age of 59. A motorist lost control of his vehicle and struck Chris as he stopped by a roadside during one of his beloved bike trips.
Born in Virginia, Chris graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Government, where he was a champion debater. He earned his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School, where he served as Articles Editor of the Law Review and was a member of the Order of the Coif. After serving as a law clerk to Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, Chris moved to San Francisco to work with the law firm of Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe. There, he met and fell in love with a fellow attorney, Jocelyn Larkin. Chris and Jocelyn married in 1989, and have two wonderful sons.
Chris joined the University of California’s Office of the General Counsel as a litigator in 1990, where he quickly built a reputation as an incisive thinker and formidable advocate. Over the next two decades, Chris represented the University in an array of complex matters, focusing on academic and student affairs, the First Amendment, and equal protection. Throughout, Chris’s easy manner and unerring judgment inspired confidence, and the University turned to Chris to lead high profile matters, including the University’s case as lead plaintiff in a historic securities fraud case against Enron. In one of his most significant cases, Chris guided the University in its bold decision to provide public access to internal Big Tobacco documents that the University had received from an anonymous source. Chris defeated Big Tobacco’s subsequent efforts to suppress the documents, which remain a valuable research archive for scholars and advocates.
In 2010, Chris was appointed as Chief Campus Counsel for UC Berkeley, where he led a devoted team of attorneys and staff in meeting the diverse legal challenges of the world-renowned campus. Chris was the principal legal advisor to three successive Chancellors, and was an integral member of the campus administration’s leadership team. He brought insight, unwavering integrity, and endless energy to the breaking events of the day, including the free speech debates that have stirred passions within the Berkeley community and beyond. Cal relied upon Chris for his guidance, and embraced him for his compassion and dedication. Chris loved being part of the campus, and took great pride in supporting its groundbreaking research and vibrant and diverse student body. Chris also contributed his keen judgment regarding bioethical matters to Highland Hospital in Oakland.
Chris was devoted first and always to his extended, close-knit family. He had great charisma, style and exquisite taste; his sartorial approach was both elegant and cool. He was a Renaissance man with a remarkable array of interests, which he pursued with great energy and mastery. He was a gourmet chef who delighted in serving up the local cuisine of his Italian ancestors, which was invariably followed by an amaro or a perfectly-pulled espresso. He was an audiophile who enjoyed Bach no less than Radiohead and the Grateful Dead. His devotion to cycling and long distance running only increased with age – while his race times continued to fall. Chris loved nature, especially hiking, fishing and photographing in the Sierras, and always looked forward to the family’s annual stay at the Angora Lakes. He was passionate about travel, which he documented with Jocelyn in their travel blogs. Known to his many friends as an avowed “gearhead,” Chris was always knowledgeable, passionate, and unusually well-equipped. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, and remembered for his quick wit, his generous spirit, and his awesome arancini.
Chris is survived by his wife Jocelyn, his two sons, Vincent and Gabriel of whom he was immensely proud; parents Joseph and Joan Patti; sisters Susan Lewis and Jennifer Patti Duffy; and brothers Steven and John Patti; and his beloved nieces and nephews. His entire extended family is deeply saddened by his loss.
A memorial will be held at a later date.
Donations in Chris’s memory may be made to the UC Berkeley Food Pantry, or UC Berkeley’s Gender Equity Resource Center (GenEq).