Man in county's 1st gay marriage dies

They had met 15 years ago that day in Santa Rosa. And that's what made Chris Lechman and Mark Gren's historic wedding even more special.

They were the first couple in Sonoma County wed on June 16, when the state Supreme Court's ruling legalizing same-sex marriage went into effect.

"He was so happy that day," said Gren, 42, of Guerneville.

Lechman died just 37 days later, on July 23, at their Guerneville home. He was 37.

His sudden death was shocking, and the cause remains unknown, Gren said. Toxicology and tissue tests are pending.

Lechman had been complaining for six months of excruciating headaches, Gren said, but MRIs had revealed nothing.

Then, several weeks ago, he began saying to his spouse, "I think I'm dying," Gren said.

Soon after, he visited the Guerneville cemetery and mentioned to Gren that "it was very nice" and he'd prefer being buried there rather than cremated.

Even with such passing and surprising mentions, Gren said nothing could have prepared him for the pain of losing him.

"It's shocking for everybody," Gren said. "Chris was adored by everyone he knew."

Lechman was born Sept. 2, 1970, in Colorado to Jim Lechman and Roberta Erker.

He was detail-oriented and outgoing, a family man, a wine-connoisseur and an '80s music fan. "He would say, 'When Duran Duran goes on tour, I go on tour,' " Gren said.

Lechman moved to Santa Rosa after graduating from Broomfield High School in 1988, joining his mother and two siblings. They had moved after his parents' divorce.

He was 22 when he met Gren while visiting his mother before his last year at University of California, Santa Barbara. It was 1993, a hot summer night in Santa Rosa hanging out with mutual friends.

"We've been together ever since," Gren said. They moved in together a year later and in 1998 bought a cabin-style home in Guerneville where Lechman cultivated a lush garden.

Ivy and dead redwood branches were replaced by an "absolutely fantastic yard" filled with blooms that he could name scientifically, Gren said.

"Gardening was very special to him," so much that he considered becoming a landscaper, Gren said. But paths led him to work instead in human resources at wine companies including Beringer Wine Estates, Mumm Napa and Allied Domecq.

He last worked at Constellation Wines U.S., which had bought his former Healdsburg employer, Beam Wine Estates.

His boss, human resources director Thalia Postel, considered Lechman her best friend.

"He was very genuine and caring. He could walk into a room and fill it with laughter and happiness," she said. "I really feel like a part of my heart has been ripped out of me."

Lechman was being laid off and was working from home when he died. The change had provided him much needed work-life balance; he was happy and peaceful, Postel said.

In addition to his spouse and parents, Lechman is survived by his stepmother, Kathy Lechman of Colorado, his sister, Corrie Gordon of Healdsburg, and his brother, Matt Lechman of Colorado.

A public viewing is scheduled for July 29 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Windsor-Healdsburg Mortuary, 9660 Old Redwood Highway in Windsor.

A celebration of Lechman's life will be held August 2 from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Villa Chanticleer, 1248 N. Fitch Mountain Road, Healdsburg.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036.