This is a different kind of post, but please indulge me.
Christopher Winfield, our Digital Marketing Manager and the clever wit behind so much of our social media success over the last two years, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, December 13. He was 51.
Christopher joined the staff in 2020, just a few weeks before the Museum was forced to shut down in response to the pandemic. It was his idea to stage a “social media takeover” with security, which ultimately led to the viral sensation of Tim, #HashtagTheCowboy and hundreds of thousands of new online fans of the Museum. He was also the author of our children’s book, “Twas the Night Before Christmas in the West.” He had been dealing with some health concerns, but we had no reason to believe what he was facing would be life threatening. We’re heartbroken.
In many ways, as far as the internet is concerned, Christopher was my creator, since he was largely responsible for the Seth “from Marketing” moniker that has become a surprisingly resilient part of my identity over the past two years. Tim was the star, Seth “from Marketing” was the foil and Christopher was the man behind the curtain. He was also hilarious. Those dad jokes we all enjoyed online flowed so naturally and represented the kind, fun-loving nature he brought to the staff. He had an oversized impact on the Museum in his short time here, and all of us who were fortunate enough to work with him miss him greatly.
Above all else, Christopher was a loving husband and an incredibly devoted father. He’s survived by his wife, Alison, his daughter, Gemma (8), and son, Flynn (5). A GoFundMe has been created in support of his family. If you feel so moved, I’m sure a donation would be appreciated. I’m also sure Christopher would have thought of something so much more clever. He always did.
Thanks,
Seth “from Marketing”
