Dr Chris Dealwis

Chris was a dear friend and colleague. We met at Yale and later started our labs at the University of Tennessee. I was at Chris and Martha’s home often at dinner parties. Since our research interests overlapped, I relied heavily on his critique. I was ill once and Chris, Martha and Chris’ mom, Mrs. Phillips, were very caring during that time. I will miss my friend greatly, his humor and his intellect.

Thanks you to all our cousins in Sri Lanka for sharing these amazing photos.

A GREAT MAN HAS TRANSITONED. I admired Dr. Chris Dealwis greatly.He was comparable to the Old Testament Daniel: Ofwhom it was recorded, Daniel understood all science. Dr. Dealwis was very knowledgeable and qualified to equate his. scientific findings to the physical and spiritual. His research will continue to enlighten many gen- equations. I spent many years in friendship with him. May the God of peace stand by his wife Martha and the entire family. And send comfort and consolation to all. I send much love to them. Pastor Harlo White

I grew up in the ministry listening to Chris’s message. I loved his teachings and what he stood for in and out of ministry. I will forever remember his and Martha’s song they sang. “ Now I see the light, shining through your face, it’s like a River, a River of light, radiating, emanating, now I see God in your face.” My grandchildren sing this song now. Thank you Chris and Martha for being a part of my life’s journey. Sending love, comfort, prayers and peace to Martha and the entire family. I love you. ❤️

I was one of Chris’s first PhD students at the University of Tennessee- Knoxville. Although we worked hard and Chris demanded discipline and attention to detail, he was quick with a smile, a story, and helpful advice. Many times, he welcomed students and post docs into his home for weekend feasts, and Martha was a great host, our adopted mom. We always had fun on our data collection trips to the synchrotron. You might be up all night doing experiments, but you were going to eat well and Chris was always up for some good conversation. Trips to Cermak Avenue and Chicago’s Chinatown, especially when we could get dim sum, are great memories. Chris was a tenacious researcher, ever curious and inquisitive, and I have continued to work with him as a collaborator. We’ll keep the x-rays on and collect as much data as we can. I’ll miss you, boss.

I had many wonderful times of fun, prayer fellowship, and travel with Chris and Martha which I will never forget! I know our fellowship will continue in the Spirit realm throughout all eternity! I Bless Chris to enjoy many new realms of Glory! Agape Love to Martha and all the family! Love and Blessings! Marcia Saliga

Some photos of my brother Chris with his family and friends over the years.

Chris and I met 37 years ago through the Christian Union at Kingston Polytechnic where we were undergraduates. We quickly became close friends and I found him to be an absolute goldmine of wisdom and knowledge. He has been one of the most influential people in my life and even though we can celebrate that he is in a great place his presence in the earthly realm is missed. Sincere condolences to Martha and the family.

Memories of my son Chris You were God’s answer to my prayer. From your early age, you loved to sing no matter when or where. Jesus loves me was your favourite. I remember the day you belted out My Delilah in the pediatrician’s waiting room and I got told off by him for stopping you, much to your delight. One evening as we sat watching the skies, we spotted a luminous disc. You were convinced it was a flying saucer. Then there was the first moon landing when you gave us no sleep until the astronauts had landed. I got the blame for firing your imagination. You were thrilled when you got the chance to have a visiting astronaut take your hand. You were born with a heart for the needy. I recall the day you decided to treat the children from the slums who came to our door. You told the domestic she’d go to hell for refusing, and decided to make tea yourself, then gave them some of your clothes. Through years of adversity and challenges, you never failed to trust the Lord or the desire to share your beliefs, and to support and pray for others. You never gave up, always determined to achieve your goals. You remain an inspiration to us. My darling son, I have been blessed and honoured to be your mother.

Chris’s memory will be forever in our hearts. We first met him and Martha at Bethel Church in Cleveland in early 2012. They opened their hearts and home to us, in our time of need with generosity and helping hands. His zeal for the Lord and knowledge of scriptures amazed us. Sitting in front of the fireplace; we prayed, worshipped and listened to teachings. As we learned about Sri Lanka and the world’s food specialties, which Chris loved to tell us about. We felt like family in their home. We know that goodbyes are not forever, Chris just jumped unexpectedly before us. To quote the Apostle Paul: “If we who are in Christ have hope only in this life, then we are of all people miserable and to be pitied.” (1 Cor 15:19).Now, he can see Him face to face, the One he trusted and believed in all his life. Goodbye and see you again … Tony & Juli

My great brother in law has indeed transitioned. Chris was always kind. He had an amazing positive attitude despite facing enormous challenges. His faith in God had such an impact on my own life and whenever he called me, he would always remind me keep looking at Jesus no matter what. That was Chris, my brother from another mother, a caring and faithful friend Yes I’ll miss him but I know I will see him again.

I first met Chris in 1981 when we visited London. He was new to London, a teenager searching for what he would like to be. He came one afternoon to visit us and shared with us his likes and doubts he was going through at that time. He went on to become one great guy in every way. My husband, his cousin, and I were so impressed we asked him to be our son’s God Father. Living at other ends of the world from each other, unfortunately, my son never met his God father but in awe of what he had become. RIP Chris. Corea family from Canada

Chris and I have been friends since our early twenties and met during our student days at Kingston. We shared many similar interests and had mutual friends in the Christian Union. We spent hours praising and worshiping God together.  I later got to know his family, Shirleen, Nilhan and Sam. I became a very close family friend and spent holidays together. I have fond memories of when I visited Chris and Martha in Knoxville with my wife Christine in 2002. Chris was amazing at keeping in touch and often called me from the States and asked about my family. I have lost a dear friend and he will be much missed. My deepest condolences to Martha, Shirleen, Nilhan and Sam.

I was at Kingston Poly 1984-1987 with Godfrey (I knew Chris as Godfrey in those days) and he was the best friend I had there. I enjoyed peaceful times with Godfrey between lectures walking around Kingston, by the river, to his special kebab shop the occasional lunchtime. After we graduated, unfortunatey, we gradually lost touch as we proceeded with the normal busyness of life and establishing oneself in the world. I don’t know a lot however I do know I could instinctively tell from my first encounter with Godfrey that he was a very very good man – a real gentleman in both senses of the word. After nearly 35 years apart I finally found Godfrey earlier this year and we spoke for over an hour reminiscing and catching up. My hope and desire was that we would meet again. Very very sadly only this evening I found out that Godfrey passed away. My sincere thanks to Godfrey’s Mum for bringing such a wonderful person into the world and my thoughts, prayers, and condolences to “ his wife Martha Dealwis, mother Shirlene Phillips, brother Nilhan De-Alwis Jayasinghe, sister Samantha De-Alwis and many more nieces, nephews, aunties, cousins and friends he loved dearly “. I mentioned to Godfrey in May that my Sister lives in Norwich and I am visiting her in November and at the same time wanted to pop by and say hello and thank you to Shirlene and I will do my best to do so. To Martha my special condolences, thoughts, and prayers, you know more than any of us that Godfrey (Chris) was a very special gift that has left a positive affect on us all. Simon x

In addition to my previous post please see attached photo. It was taken after our last final degree exam, must have been June 1987. Godfrey is far right towards the back and I am far right towards the front. Godfrey was my best friend at Kingston Poly.

I’m sorry to only comes across this sad news about Chris now. I moved away from Case Western Reserve University and lost touch with Chris. I remember him though as a kind and generous colleague.

Chris was a member of my research group at Abbott Laboratories (1994-1995) and did excellent work in protein crystallography to develop enzymes with optimized properties to be used in the diagnostic reagents manufactured by Abbott Laboratories (see images). He was a highly competent scientist, dedicated, focused and insightful. He was friendly, caring and an excellent team member. He will be sorely missed by any one who had the fortune of interacting with him personally or professionally,

Family, extended relatives and friends of our departed Chris Dealwis,   I was immensely saddened by the news of Chris’ passing; it was totally unexpected. It had been a long time since I last heard of him. Another member of the Protein Crystallography group at Abbott laboratories from the 1990’s told me the heartbreaking news. With this video message I wish to express to deepest and most heartfelt condolences to all of you.   In contrast to the experiences and memories of most of you, my relationship with Chris was mainly professional. During the approximately 2-3 years that he spent in our laboratory at Abbott we only exchanged very brief personal conversations.  Professionally, he was a quiet and reserved co-worker and colleague.   Founded by John Erickson and myself in 1985, the laboratory was among several Protein Crystallography laboratories that were set up in the pharmaceutical companies to implement the methods of Structure-Based Drug Design to expedite drug discovery. In our own environment at Abbott Laboratories, our group also addressed structural problems related to ‘protein engineering’, whereby our results from the protein structures were used to guide the design of proteins prepared for the diagnostic reagents, manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. Chris worked specifically in the structural analysis of structures of variants (e.g. mutants) of the enzyme Alkaline Phosphatase, produced by the molecular biology laboratory at Abbott, three floors above ours.   We carefully solved and refined the structure of a mutation of Alkaline phosphatase that had the property of losing a necessary cofactor (Mg2+) that was required for catalysis. The results fully explained what happened at the atomic level and we published two excellent papers in professional journals (Figs 1a,b) and deposited the structures in the World-Wide depository named the Protein Data Bank (Figs. 2a,b). It was a very productive and valuable post-doctoral experience that I think prepared Chris very effectively for his future independent research endeavors in his future career. (images of papers and PDB depositions).   His stay in the lab at Abbott, coincided with the expansion of our laboratory to larger space in a nearby building and this is what is reflected in the snapshots that I saved in my laboratory collection (Fig.3).   Chris was a highly competent collaborator: dedicated, insightful, imaginative and an excellent team-member. Everybody in the lab enjoyed his company. He was reserved by nature but certainly not unfriendly. It was certainly a pleasure working him.   As we all depart from him and honor him, I wish to share with you and remember the happy moments in the laboratory, when our protein structures were completed, and the results explained the ‘unusual’ properties of the molecules that were used in diagnostic kits, and that impacted the lives of human beings all over the word.   Chris your presence and memory will be remembered by everyone that had the fortune of having met you, personally and/or professionally. I was one of the lucky ones.       Please, see Figures in a separate powerpoint document(file) in the previous message. Thank you. —-   Figures. Fig1a,b (Publications) slide 1 Fig. 2a,b (PDB entries) slides 2,3 Fig. 3. Snapshots slide 4

I am so shocked to learn that our beloved Chris had rested all his work on the earth and gone to stay with our Lord forever. I was moved by your dedication to God. Your hand never fell short of helping the young students, especially foreign students. I still remembered how you testified Jesus Christ in your daily life. Always joyful even though some challenging things in life. I knew more Jesus through you. I still remembered our last call before COVID. You were so faithful in Lord’s healing. I believe the Lord will give you a perfect new body. You have got a ticket to heaven early. Will see you again in heaven. May the best for Martha!