from those who knew him best.

“Dad pushed us to the the best we could be in sports and in life, we were all scared of him in a good way. And then there were the times he would stroll up stairs in his boxers and ask if we wanted to watch a scary movie or grab Burger King. I couldn’t ever tell if he was a better friend or dad, but I miss both equally and so much.”

- Joey Pope 

“Chris was my very best friend for 24 years. We learned so much together, in college, as a couple and as parents. He taught me how to not take everything so seriously, to be adventurous, and he gave me life’s greatest gift in my three children.  One of his greatest gifts, was his ability to always make me feel safe. He was the ultimate protector. I’m so thankful for the gifts he shared with me, and I’m so grateful that he was mine.”

- Roxy Pope

“Where do I begin on what Chris Pope meant to me?  Chris Pope was a true friend to me in every sense of the word.  I had the good fortune of having Chris Pope as one of my closest friends and neighbors for over a decade. There was hardly a day that went by that we didn’t at least exchange texts.  We did life together,  and no topic was off-limits.  Whether it was sharing tough advice about raising kids, making fun of each other, venting about sports (I’m still right about Trubisky), belly laughing to our favorite comedians, or a friend to share in the misery of the 100th picture being snapped at a party (now the picture makes sense), he was always there.  He was my first phone call in a time of need, and he never disappointed.  I’m forever grateful for his friendship.”

- Scott Skowronski 

“Chris laughed with me, cried with me, sweat with me, bled with me, and fought with me over and over again. And we forgave each other over and over again, because we were brothers together. In this life and the next.”

- Rich Celldoll 

“Chris was more than just a brother-in-law he was one of my best friends. He was someone that I knew I can count on. He would be there when needed in a heartbeat, listen and give his opinion when asked (or not) and just be there to talk about anything and everything. He would make me laugh when he busted out a perfectly timed line from one of his favorite movies while laughing hysterically himself. His random one- or two-word texts or memes (mostly inappropriate) would always make my day. Chris had a fun-loving approach toward most things and full throttle attitude that was much admired. Chris had a profound impact on my life In the much to short amount of time I got to call him a friend and brother. He is Greatly missed.”  

- John Cmiel

“As we were in the beginning stages of opening the gym, Chris would take time out of his busy schedule to meet us for lunch and let us pick his brain about his business experience. Somewhere along that road he turned from an adviser to a partner in the gym. Chris is a primary reason that UFC GYM Naperville exists today. He was integral in getting the business plans fleshed out and seeing it through from concept to reality. His business savvy and vision were paramount in the development of a family friendly gym that caters to all ages and ability level. His contributions have directly changed countless lives and continue to make a profound impact on a daily basis. Even with everything else he had on his plate; he would still make time to meet with us to discuss important issues regarding the gym. We probably shared more laughs than conversations about the business during our 4 hour lunches. No matter how stressed out we all were at the beginning of our meetings, we would leave with smiles on our faces and giving each other a big hug in appreciation of the shared laughter which sometimes came at Chris’ expense for ordering a Pinot Grigio in a chilled beer glass. We met Chris later on in our lives but we made a connection with him that seemed like we had known him forever. He became more than a business partner and friend. He became a brother. We miss Chris everyday and try to honor his name by making the gym a success and making him and his family proud.”

- Rick Lamas and Matt Kuschert

“Pope was someone I could always count on to bring a smile to my face and to make me laugh with his “special” sense of humor. He had a rare, genuine loyalty that made him a rock for anyone fortunate enough to know him. To me, he was more than just a friend—someone I trusted completely, and his presence left a mark that’ll never fade.“

- Bill Housey 

“I always knew him as Coach Pope. We first met back when I was in second grade playing my first year of tackle football. He would go on to help coach me in rugby as well over the next several years. He taught me how to tackle, how to drive past an offensive line, how to spin off a blocker, and how to also just brush things off. If I got knocked down, no big deal just get up for the next play. I was shorter than most of my teammates but he taught me how to still have a ferocity that enabled me be effective despite my disadvantages. As I got older and we ran into each other less, I remember when we would see each other again in public and he always say “How you doin Bloomer!” and he just knew how to always make me feel special. He was an encourager. That was probably what made him such a great coach. He knew how to bring out the best in you as a player and make sure that you knew it too.”

- Luke Bloom

“I was lucky to be Chris Pope's niece.  I remember my uncle as a big teddy bear—someone who might look tough on the outside, but was really one of the sweetest, most caring people you'd ever meet. He was this big tough guy who would soften and tell me how pretty my hair was, or cheer me on while i ruthlessly picked on my boy cousins (they weren’t allowed to fight back). He was someone who cheers for the shark in soul surfer, then cries when she actually gets bit. Someone who loves scary movies, but also loved Single Ladies by Beyoncé. He shared his love of animals with us, whether it be showing all of us how to catch a lizard or making us hold the python the reptile guy brought over. Above all, he cared deeply for everyone he met. Uncle Chris didn’t have to try to the cool uncle, he just was.”

- Roxy Gambino