Service for Christoph Walker Saturday

Services for Christoph Walker will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the with a reception immediately following the service at the Walker Nature Education Center.

Walker, 51, collapsed and died while exercising Monday on the Reston path near French Horn Lane. He grew up in Reston but was a resident of Sacramento, Calif., since 2003. He was in town visiting family when he collapsed.

Walker is survived by his partner of 24 years, Bob Herne; his two brothers Glenn and Jeff; and nieces Idalina, Delia and nephew Cyrus. He was the son of the late Vernon and Elfriede Walker. Christoph Walker's father, Vernon, was the director of Reston's first nature center. The Walker Nature Education Center is named for him.

A graduate of the College of William & Mary, with a J.D. from George Mason University, Christoph Walker was a longtime Legislative Director for Congressman Tom Lantos. In California, he held several Governor-appointed positions, including Assistant Secretary of State.

Chris was well loved and will be remembered for his convictions, as well as his kind and gentle manner, said Glenn Walker.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Sierra Forever Families, www.sierraff.org, in Sacramento, or to the Friends of Reston at Walker Nature Education Center in Reston.