A devoted husband, father and friend, Chris was a Clark, NJ native and graduate of Arthur L. Johnson High School, where he played varsity lacrosse and met many of his lifelong friends.  Chris went on to earn his undergraduate and law degrees from Rutgers University.  After many years of private legal practice, he was recruited to work in compliance by Sandoz and served most recently as Executive Director at Amicus Therapeutics in Princeton, NJ. 

Chris first met his future wife Debbie in 6th grade and was quickly smitten, as he made known through a series of attention-getting pranks combined with chivalrous actions such as carrying her books home from school.  They were married on October 16, 2004 and settled in the Plainfield house they still call home, welcoming their children Alex in 2005 and Bobby in 2007.  Chris adored his sons and was a tireless supporter of all their endeavors - in school, on the athletic field, or running their landscaping business, where he stepped in when necessary, as the unsung (and unpaid) hero. Chris was also a dedicated companion to the family’s rescue dog, Rusty, and the pair were a fixture walking the sidewalks of their Netherwood neighborhood.

Among his friends, Chris was beloved for his sharp wit and sarcastic sense of humor; get-togethers were sure to be accompanied by plenty of laughter.  He was an avid dirt bike enthusiast and always at home speeding along the rocky trails of upstate New York.  He will be deeply missed by all the communities he touched, notably among families from Holy Trinity School in Westfield and St. Joseph High School in Metuchen where his sons attend(ed).  A man whose modesty belied his ability to do so many things well, Chris always gave much more than he took.  Whether it was welcoming every Cub Scout in the pack to use his tools and talent to create their Pinewood Derby dream cars, building a custom podium for a Holy Trinity classroom or using his truck and trailer hitch to transport the St. Joseph’s crew team chuckwagon.  Chris not only helped but went above and beyond.  

The Chris Canada Memorial Fund, Inc. established in 2024, is classified as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) with the Internal Revenue Service, and is a registered non-profit organization in the State of New Jersey.  The Fund's primary purpose is to provide scholarship awards to qualified students to financially assist in their post-secondary education. It is our aim to support students who have lost a parent.

2024 Board of Trustees

Michael Kurze (President)

Joseph Colombo (Vice President)

Jacqueline Burton (Treasurer)

Angela Kurze (Secretary)