Christopher Abert

Christopher Abert passed away peacefully in Rochester, NY on Sept 17, 2024. He was born on July 10th, 1972, in Rochester, NY. He is survived by his mother Heath Abert, WSM Jeanne Abert, his sisters Danielle, Kelley and Kaitlin, his nieces Alexa and Elena, his forever love Maddie, and scores of other family and friends.

Chris was diagnosed with cancer this spring and chose not to seek treatment. He spent his last few months spending time with loved ones and going on adventures. As Chris said, “connection, music, history, fantastic adventures, casual bike rides, organizing, fancy smells, and too-expensive Pacific Northwest work boots” were just a few of the things that brought him joy during this time.

He was a nationally respected Harm Reduction advocate, dedicating the last 20 years of his life to creating spaces where people who were struggling might experience moments of connection. He transformed and touched the lives of many wherever he lived. He challenged systems and ideas and spoke against stigma at all costs. He embodied radical love and resistance and curated spaces for people to feel safe, seen, heard and loved. Chris' impact on people’s lives and the harm reduction community is not quantifiable.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any of the non-profits he was associated with: Indiana Recovery Alliance (IRA) in Bloomington, IN; Southwest Recovery Alliance (SWRA) in Phoenix, AZ; Recovery All Ways (RAW) in Rochester, NY.