Chris Mirabal has been a member of The Charlotte Geeks since November 4, 2015. On September 11, 2023, Chris passed away due to complications from a medical condition. One of his close friends, Caitlin Wright, wrote this memoriam to share with us. We all grieve his loss, and give our support to his wife and fellow member, Kristen Wasilewski Mirabal.
This past week, the Charlotte Geeks lost an amazing member, Chris Mirabal. Chris didn’t merely enjoy the things he liked; he was truly passionate about them. Some of his favorite things included the Legend of Zelda video game series, the Miami Dolphins, burgers, calamari, and chocolate cake. His vast collection of t-shirts was ever-growing, even though he never got around to wearing some he already had. Friends knew better than to stand between this man and his favorite food of all–pepperoni pizza.
It’s difficult to decide Chris’s best quality, because there were many, but I think what we will miss most is his kindness. Chris was always welcoming newcomers to Charlotte Geeks events, especially game nights, where he liked to run beginner-friendly games to better include new members. He understood coming to an event for the first time could be intimidating, and he wanted others to feel as comfortable as possible at Charlotte Geeks events.
Chris was always willing to lend an ear to a friend having a bad day, feeling lonely, or just wanting someone to chat with. He had the rare trait of being an empathetic and caring listener. He enjoyed making friends smile and laugh, even when he wasn’t having a good day himself, and had a great sense of humor. He was the kind of person who’d thoroughly enjoy your reaction to an unexpected Rickroll, and never met a baby he didn’t play peek-a-boo with.
Chris was also a talented artist who loved creating Perler bead art. He and his wife, Kristen, often sold at art and craft shows in the Charlotte area. He frequently surprised friends with pieces he made for them, usually imitations of their favorite characters from popular culture.
We love Chris and will miss him dearly.
If you would like to contribute to assist with Chris’s final expenses, a GoFundMe account has been set up in his honor.
