Funeral Mass was celebrated July 27 at St. Bede Church, La Canada, for Christopher R. LaBonge, who died July 20 from complications related to leukemia a week shy of his 64th birthday.The fourth of eight sons born to Mary Louise and Robert Stanton LaBonge (former business manager of The Tidings), Chris attended John Marshall High School, Los Angeles City College and graduated from Occidental College. He was an all-league football player and team captain at all schools. Professionally, Chris was a pioneer in direct and digital marketing for over 30 years, at Smith Hemmings Gosden and FCB, then went on to open Grey's Direct Marketing Division on the West Coast and built that division into a $100 million agency in three years.Chris also served on the board of trustees at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy (2008-13), was chair of the marketing committee and was most recently served on the leadership gift committee for the capital campaign. To honor the memory of his wife Roberta (who died of cancer in 1991), he spearheaded the launch of the first USC/Norris patient-care handbook designed to help patients navigate the overwhelming process of cancer treatment, and he sponsored a room in the Norris dedicated to Roberta's memory. A loving father, husband, brother and friend, he is survived by his children Matt (Meredith), Kate (Jon Paul Collett) and Mike; grandson James; and his brothers Brian, Steve, Denis, Tim, Bob, Tom and Mark. Services were handled by Callanan & Woods Scovern, Glendale (www.callanancares.com).
