Christopher Patrick Hendrickson

Christopher Patrick Hendrickson died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Sept. 23. He was 79.

Born April 4, 1939 in New York City, he graduated from Xavier High School and participated in ROTC. He graduated from Fordham University in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in physics and went on to serve as a 2ndlieutenant in the Army.

He married Lenore Pimental in 1961, and they had three daughters. Hendrickson completed his master’s degree in engineering from Purdue University in 1964. A tour in Korea resulted in his promotion to major before his honorable discharge from the Army in 1968, and the beginning of his long career as a physicist and computer scientist with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. In 1981, he also completed a master’s degree in computer science from UC Davis.

After his first marriage ended, he wed Barbara (DiNucci) Hofacker in 1969, and became stepfather to her two children. Their marriage was filled with love, art and travel, which ended with her passing in 2015. He cherished his family and friends. He loved science and philosophy and potato chips, and his grandchildren most of all.

He leaves behind his sister, Joan Oster, and his brother, Greg Hendrickson; his children, Elizabeth Hendrickson, Donna Hendrickson, Jennifer Ricci and Jenny Welham; his stepchildren, Rachel Shelton and Gilbert Hofacker Jr.; and seven grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Luther Burbank Art & Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave in Santa Rosa on Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.