Christopher Barden

Christopher Francis Barden passed away on November 9, 2020, in Berkeley, California.

Chris is survived by his wife, Maureen Ladley, his parents, Ann and Robert Barden, his brother, Prescott Barden, and sister, Amanda Barden, and his extended family and countless friends.

Chris grew up in the Bay Area here in California and was proud of the diversity in people and experiences that upbringing offered. Chris was raised in the Catholic church, attended Saint Mary’s College High School, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and received his bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California. Chris went on to graduate-level studies in history at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. He served as a teacher at both the collegiate and high school levels and worked as a professional tutor for students with disabilities.

Chris dedicated his post-collegiate career to promoting international relations and worldwide food security as Vice President of Worldwide Farmers Exchange (WFE), a non-profit agricultural exchange organization he was associated with for 30 years. Through WFE, Chris helped connect young agriculturalists from other countries with American growers, providing an opportunity for hands-on training. Through his work, Chris formed life-long friendships with members of the Grow Abroad World Alliance, WFE hosts, trainees and interns, and the many exchange partner organizations around the world.

If you know Chris, you know he never met a stranger. Chris was big-hearted and had the gift for talking meaningfully with anyone, anywhere. He was a passionate reader and was deeply versed in a wide array of interests. Chris was the rap music expert on any pub quiz team, was a walking encyclopedia on world history and historical events. He revered baseball, soccer, and college football. The San Francisco Giants 2010 World Series win was an unforgettable moment in his life. Chris had a very brief turn as a baseball announcer, calling the minor league Modesto Giants versus San Jose A’s in 1992.

Chris loved travel, and diverse cultural experiences and traditions. He had eclectic taste in music, loved food and feeding people, and he thrived on absorbing the interesting facts and experiences life had to offer. He was fascinated with what made people unique.

Please consider supporting Chris’ passion for food security for all through the support of the Alameda County Food Bank, https://www.accfb.org/give/, or the Memorial Fund at University of Nebraska Lincoln established in his name https://nufoundation.org/fund/01154460/.

A virtual memorial service will be held for Christopher on Saturday, April 17th at 11:00 a.m. To view the live stream please visit www.oneroomstreaming.com and enter the following event ID and password: 

Event ID: GreerFM
Password: IVMIVA
 

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