Chris Naldoza, long-time mental health advocate and dedicated friend, son, uncle, and brother, passed away on February 18, 2025 of natural causes at the age of 60. In addition to his commitment to his family and extensive support of individuals living with mental illness, Chris was a tireless volunteer for the Yolo County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and worked as a Peer Support Worker for the Yolo County Health and Human Service Agency. He helped peers access important resources, including health care, transit, housing, and employment, and advocated for their needs.
Family, friends, and colleagues remember his kindness, positive attitude, and energy. Long-time friend Kathy Williams-Fossdahl fondly remembers Chris as the “best hugger in Davis” and a “bright spot in everyone’s day.”
Linda Wight, a fellow NAMI Board member said, “his smile was infectious.”
Chris was born in San Francisco and lived in Davis for the past 15 years. In his own words, he had “an idyllic childhood” and treasured wonderful memories about spending time with his siblings. He had a sharp mind and a passion for science fiction, books, chess, and music –interests that reflected his deep curiosity and creativity.
He loved camping throughout California, riding his motorcycle, and drumming at International House Davis.
Chris was a devoted uncle, always bringing warmth and kindness to his nieces and nephews.
Chris’ leadership in the mental health community resulted from years of work to understand the strengths and gaps in the support system for people living with mental illness, as well as the thoughtful development of relationships necessary to support others. He first sought support from NAMI for his own struggles with serious mental illness. He lived the NAMI maxim “you are not alone” after developing his own support system. He volunteered as a speaker for NAMI’s “In Our Own Voice,” a program through which people living with mental illness present to the community to change attitudes and assumptions about mental health conditions. He also taught NAMI’s Peer-to-Peer class for adults with mental health conditions who need to understand their illness and the path to recovery. He facilitated peer support groups throughout Yolo County and served on the NAMI Board of Directors, helping his fellow Board members understand the challenges of his peers and providing constructive suggestions to help address them. According to his friend Antonia Tsobanoudis, he always went “above and beyond.”
Chris personally engaged in many volunteer efforts, including helping NAMI host monthly potlucks for peers and their families, organizing community barbecues, assisting with the expansion of NAMI’s holiday gift program by identifying new recipients, and creating social events like “Let’s Do Lunch,” where people living in permanent supportive housing with limited resources and no access to transportation would have a social lunch out with NAMI volunteers. He also was a tireless advocate for permanent supportive housing and other housing options for people living with mental illness. Petrea Marchand and Anya McCann, fellow NAMI Board members, remember Chris’ relentless efforts to help locate and expand housing options, despite a difficult and frustrating shortage in Yolo County. He was grateful for housing projects like Cesar Chavez and Homestead in Davis, which provide apartments for people living with mental illness to live independently; he was lucky enough to spend the last year of his life living in an apartment at Cesar Chavez.
His friend Maggie Fry said it best; Chris was “able to reflect how hope is built, little by little, day by day, and to bring that reflection with him to be there where people were. And to remember with them what it feels like to belong. What it feels like to truly believe your experience can support others to feel better and recover. And he was so skilled he made it seem effortless.” Chris touched many lives and will be remembered with great love.
Chris is survived by his mother, Diana Naldoza, his two brothers Arthur and Aaron Naldoza, five nieces, two nephews, and one great niece. Chris’ path as an advocate was inspired by his father Arthur W. Naldoza’s (d. 2008) work as a lobbyist for the working poor.
Chris’ family is hosting a Celebration of Life at St. Martin’s Church, 640 Hawthorne Lane in Davis, CA on April 6th at 3:30 pm.
Donations in Chris’ honor may be made to International House Davis or NAMI Yolo County.