Remembering Chris
All of us at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence were saddened to hear of the recent passing of our former Board Chair, Christine “Chris” Konys.
Chris was a member of the New Hampshire State Assembly before she relocated to Massachusetts with her husband David. A true social justice warrior, almost immediately after moving, she wanted to learn where she could get involved and continue to make a difference. She was connected to REACH by former State Representative (now Middlesex Sheriff) Peter Koutoujian, who also served on the REACH Board and has been a longtime supporter of the organization.
Eventually becoming Chair of the REACH Board from 2004-2010, Chris guided the agency through a crucial period that included the capital campaign to build our new shelter. Current and former REACH staff members remember Chris as a true leader, a funny and warm presence whose dry sense of humor kept things light during otherwise challenging times, and someone who believed in those around her.
REACH Associate Executive Director Deborah Heimel says, “Chris was the Chair of the Board when I joined REACH. She had an efficient yet personable leadership style that I quickly appreciated and she set my expectations for board members to a high bar, which I am grateful we have been able to continue to this day. Her leadership has impacted me and many other leaders here.”
To those of us who knew Chris, it was obvious that the true joy of her life was her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and we send our deepest condolences to her family. Though diminutive in stature, Chris had an outsized impact on REACH’s work and her legacy is felt to this day by the families who find safety and refuge in our shelter. She will be truly missed.
