Premer remembered with heartfelt words

Bryce Alderton

Chris Premer touched many lives.

That was evident by the turnout Saturday at Pelican Hill Golf

Club, where about 300 mourners paid their respects to a man who

epitomized media relations for this community’s Toshiba Senior

Classic while leaving a lasting impression on almost everyone he met.

“He was selfless,” Jennifer Mitzner, a friend and co-worker with

Premer at Hoag Hospital, said. Premer, who would have turned 31

today, died tragically on Oct. 1 when a twin-engine plane he was a

passenger in crashed shortly after takeoff from the Ontario Airport.

Premer, along with friend Paul Mumford Jr., were heading to Oakland

to watch the first game of baseball’s American League Division Series

between the Oakland A’s and Boston Red Sox.

The shocking death left several in the audience reaching for

tissues, trying to wipe the tears as relatives and friends shared

their memories of the Toshiba Senior Classic’s media director, who

ventured out on his own as a freelance writer the past three years

after serving in Hoag’s communications department since 1997.

But he maintained his relationships at Hoag and continued to

produce material that made others jealous and showed off his writing

talents.

“Chris was given the gift of being a writer,” Debra Legan, Hoag’s

vice president of marketing said. “I both admired and hated that part

about him,” she said with a smile while trying to hold back tears.

Premer spent two years interviewing about 75 people for a 50th

anniversary book celebrating the hospital.

“He loved history, he was brilliant with a clarity and vision,”

Legan said. “He was so charismatic, a straight-shooter. He could talk

to anyone about any topic. He will always be in my heart. He leaves a

huge void. The communications team will not the same. He is

irreplaceable.”

A memorial fund is being created to place Premer’s name on the

donor wall at Hoag, Legan said.

Premer’s zest for life was evident by the trips he made to

sporting events, his interest in people and the attention to the

world around him, especially with his love for family.

“The trait that characterized Chris the most was his love for

family,” brother-in-law Bob Smith said. Premer would visit his mother

and father, Sandy and Ted, near Dallas where they had lived the last

nine years. Premer lived within driving distance of older brother

Tony and his wife Colleen, along with sister Connie Smith. Nephews

Max, Nick and Shane Premer, along with Matt and Katherine Smith, were

never too far for Chris to drop by in his red Jeep Wrangler to read

them a story, play basketball or take a swim.

Connie Smith opened up a box in the shape of a heart Chris made,

which she found in his Costa Mesa apartment Saturday. Inside were

tiny strips of paper with Chris’s written thoughts.

She broke down in tears when reading about how he loved being with

the niece and nephews.

“He was waiting for Matthew to turn 5 to begin giving piano

lessons,” Connie Smith said. “No one could make me laugh or cry like

him. We were roommates in college and I was with him when he got his

only hole-in-one.”

Bryon Rice knew Chris since the third grade. As the two grew up,

Chris would call regularly to see how Rice was doing, giving support

when needed.

Rice made the audience laugh when he recalled the times the two

would sneak out to play the back nines of courses in Fullerton and

Brea and dodging the marshals.

Rice then described a time when Chris was having “the round of his

life” at Dad Miller Golf Course in Anaheim Hills, seeking to finish

in the 70s.

“We were on a par-3 on the back nine and you had to go over

water,” Rice said. “I shanked my shot into the bushes and Chris got

up there and hit a low liner right into the water. The club went

flying and he kicked the air. He was so upset.”

Laughs permeated the room.

“I’ve never felt alone until now,” Rice said.

When Rice thought about why Chris, who doesn’t like to fly,

continued to get in the air, he offered this response.

“It was to get busy living,” Rice said.

Tony Premer offered a similar thought.

“He was attacking life, almost with an urgency to enjoy more

experiences,” Tony Premer said.

“Now I will look more closely each time a red Jeep passes by,” Ted

Premer said.