It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Christopher R. Sharpless, Sr from complications of Parkinson's disease on October 1, 2025.

Born in 1945 as the only child to his beloved Mother Jean Alley Sherman and father Edward J. Sharpless, members of the Society of Friends. Raised in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, he was a boarding student of the Quaker, George School, where he was an accomplished member of the dive and ski teams. After graduation he joined his father, who was then President of the Kennett Canning Company in the business of large scale growing and canning of mushrooms. He met and married his first wife Sherry Brennan at 18 and they had two sons Darren and Chris, Jr. She passed away many years ago. Coming to the realization that working in the family mushroom business was not for him, he traveled eventually to Newark, DE and became the manager of the live rock music venue the Stone Balloon where he met and married Katherine Mary Callanan. A few short years later they moved to Barbados to open a hotel thus began Chris' lifelong involvement in the Caribbean hospitality industry. They decided to move to St. Thomas in the mid 70's to open the first McDonald's franchise in the territory. They were blessed with the birth of their son Ched a few years later. In the 80's he founded the territories first multi-complex condo hotel company, Property Management Caribbean. In the 90's he founded and grew the then largest hotel franchising company in the region. Among his proudest business accomplishments were his roles as President and Chair of the Caribbean Hotel; Tourism Association, President of the USVI Hotel Association and Commodore of the St. Thomas Yacht Club and Director of the International Rolex Regatta. Chris was a man of varied personal interests and passions and whose journey was blessed with many different paths. Among them, the development of a national championship SCCA GT2 race car team, and as a 1988 Winter Olympic member and driver for the first two- and four-man USVI Bobsled Team. He always tried to enjoy life to its fullest and valued hard work and hard play in equal measure. He was a loyal friend and gravitated to those who danced to the beat of a different drummer. A lover of sailboats and racing cars, a natural storyteller who when among the company of those closest to him was at his happiest. His humor was infectious, and his friends were many.

He is survived by his three sons, Darren, Chris, Jr and Ched, six grandchildren as well as his devoted longtime partner Barabara Shuett and many extended family members and friends too numerous to mention.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the National Parkinson's Foundation. Or as Chris was fond of saying, celebrate his life by drinking more and singing louder.

Allison Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.