Christopher P. NaneyHighland - Christopher P. Naney, age 52 of Highland, NY, died unexpectedly Saturday, October 28, 2017 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, NY, after a long and determined struggle with heart disease and other complications of Lyme disease.Chris was born on August 15, 1965 in New York, NY. He was the son of Ellen Naney of High Falls, NY and Lebanon, NH, and the late William H. Naney.He was a 1983 graduate of Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie, NY. He attended Landmark College in Putney, VT and was a 1997 graduate of Johnson State College in Vermont, where he majored in Environmental Science and History. Chris was currently employed as the Safety Coordinator for Dutchess County BOCES.Chris was a brilliant, erudite, witty, and kind brother, uncle, son, nephew, and friend. He was a deeply curious and knowledgeable historian, naturalist, cook, and baker. A voracious reader and walking encyclopedia, Chris could always be relied upon to provide historical context and accuracy and explain the natural world. As an 8-year-old, he researched and then built a complete suit of chainmail armor. As a teenager, he delighted in replicating historically accurate medieval recipes. Between high school and college, he went on a solo adventure to the island of Yap in the South Pacific to learn about its culture and natural history. Chris loved spending time in the mountains, especially at his secret swimming holes and blueberry picking spots, and once he discovered the Shawangunks, never wanted to be away from them for very long. Chris loved to cook for his friends and was the chef for family holiday meals, a tradition he started at age 12 when he cooked a Christmas goose and plum pudding, much to the dismay of visiting out-of-town relatives. Chris was deeply committed to his work ensuring environmental safety for schools and the students and staff who spent their days there. Prior to this work, he served as the museum director at Bear Mountain, as an environmental educator onboard Clearwater's Schooner Mystic Whaler, and as a baker at Mohonk Mountain House and The Bakery in New Paltz and in Boston and Northampton, MA. Chris volunteered as a stream ecologist for the Lower Esopus watershed, as an environmental educator for Minnewaska State Park in NY and Babcock Nature Preserve in Vermont, and most importantly, as a member of the Clearwater Festival site crew for the past 35 years, starting when he was 16. He loved organizing the meals and cooking for his site crew family, and the annual weeks he spent with them was his favorite time each year. Chris' deep love for his friends and family, especially his niece and nephew, was always apparent and will endure forever. Surviving are his mother, Ellen Naney of High Falls, NY and Lebanon, NH; sister and brother-in-law, Rebecca and Ken Lallier of Hartford, VT; niece, Megan and Chipman Flowers of Boston, MA; nephew, Jeffrey Lallier and Sarah Johnson of Burlington, VT; great niece, Talia Flowers of Boston, MA; uncle and aunt, David and Miriam Riggle of Evanston, IL; uncle and aunt, Dan and Gina Riggle of Shorewood, IL; cousin, Paul Riggle of Arvada, CO; cousin, Ann Streitz of Joliet, IL; and many dear friends.Chris was predeceased by his father, William H. Naney who died on August 10, 1977 and his grandparents, Paul and Martha Riggle.A celebration of Chris' life will be held on Saturday, November 11 at 2:00 p.m. at Unison Arts Center, 68 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz, NY. Donations may be made to Clearwater. To make a tribute donation in Chris' honor, please go to Clearwater.org or click here. https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=clearwater&id=12 Choose "Type of Tribute, In Memory of" and type in "Chris Naney" so that his family will be notified. Arrangements are under the direction of Copeland Funeral Home, Inc., 162 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 12561. Condolences may be made to the family at www.copelandfhnp.com.