Necrology

Christopher Mark F. Brdlik '73

Jul. 7, 1951-Nov. 19, 2023

Christopher Mark F. Brdlik ’73 died on Nov. 19, 2023, in Newton, N.J. Born in Hinsdale, Ill., on Sept. 7, 1951, he was raised in St. Charles, Ill., and, later, in Huntington, N.Y., and came to Hamilton from Cold Spring Harbor High School. On the Hill, he joined Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and majored in religion. He also played intramural sports and was manager of the track team.

Following graduation, Chris took what would now be termed a “gap” year, working in Jacksonville, Fla., as shop manager for Jesse Brown’s Backpacking, an outfitter for hikers. It was there that he met Debra Cleveland, then a student at Florida Junior College, now Florida State College. The two shared a deep love for the outdoors and were married on June 18, 1977, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. They had two sons and a daughter.

In 1974, Chris began preparing for a career as a minister at the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Va., the largest accredited seminary of the Episcopal Church. He received his master of divinity degree in 1977 and, that same year, became the curate for the Church of the Incarnation in Great Falls, Mont. In this role, Chris would, on occasion, lead youth group backpacking trips with Debra to various local sites. 

In 1981, he and Debra moved to Clifton Forge, Va., when he was appointed rector of St. Andrew’s Church. Three years later, they moved again, this time to Waynesboro, Va., when Chris became rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Then, in 1988, he took a leave of absence from his church to accept a fellowship at the College of Preachers at National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., which provided an opportunity to step away from the daily routines of church leadership as well as focus on theological matters and ways to improve his preaching. The next year, he was appointed to a six-year term on the board of trustees of the Virginia Theological Seminary.

From Virginia, Chris and his family moved in 1995 to Summit, N.J., where he served as rector of Calvary Episcopal Church. Among his other professional responsibilities, he was active in the Summit Interfaith Council, which brought together representatives of 10 different denominations to collaborate on community service initiatives. He retired 15 years later, in 2010.

Chris and Debra’s shared interest in the outdoors was reflected in their regular hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, canoeing, and sailing trips. Frequently, the destinations for family vacations were national parks, and, during his residence in Summit, the family acquired a house on a lake in northwest New Jersey that served as a starting point for hikes. In tandem with these activities, he was a conservationist and a member of the Sierra Club and Wilderness Society. He also had a longtime interest in railroad history and classical music.

Chris quite candidly reflected upon the influence of Hamilton on his later life and career, and, in so doing, undoubtedly gave voice to the experiences of many alumni of the College. In response to a question in the 1990 alumni survey, he wrote: “I’d have to admit I hardly applied myself academically during my tenure at Hamilton, opting instead to spend my time in fraternity and social activities. It wasn’t long after I graduated — perhaps during my first year or so of seminary [1974-75] — that I realized that Hamilton had educated me in spite of myself. I identify two highly useful skills that were learned at Hamilton: writing and public speaking. These alone placed me above my peers in graduate school. Additionally, I believe I was well rounded in the humanities, literature, and philosophy.”

Christopher M.F. Brdlik is survived by his wife, two sons, daughter, and two grandchildren.

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