Kristan Fischer Hanlock Obituary – Santa Cruz, CA (1965-2025)

Kristan Fischer – Hanlock

OBITUARY

Kristan Fischer-Hanlock, age 59, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully in her sleep at her home on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Kristan was born in Garden Grove, California, as the sixth child of Lois Harmsen Fischer and the late Kenneth Fischer. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Busines Administration and Management Science from Cal Poly in 1985. She was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. At Cal Poly, Kristan met Larry Hanlock. They married on September 1, 1990 and settled in Silicon Valley, where Kristan worked at Apple Computer, Inc.

Kristan paused her professional career to build and raise her family and had daughters Chelsea, Gigi, and Laurel. In 1998, Kristan and her family moved to Santa Cruz, where she and Larry settled. In Santa Cruz, she grew her family and had her son Jack and daughter Olivia. She was dedicated to fostering her children’s academic, athletic, and artistic interests, and she became a familiar face at school programs, youth sports, theater, dance, and events at Holy Cross Church.

In 2006, she returned to the professional work-force and expertly balanced her roles as a manager at both work and home. After two years at Santa Cruz Nutritionals, she rejoined Apple. Kristan was proud of what she accomplished at Apple–and rightfully so. She travelled to China on business, and she managed teams that built hardware like the iPad and software like Face ID. At the time of her passing, Kristan worked as a senior Engineering Program Manager for Apple News and had received awards for her substantial contributions to the company over her 24 years of employment.

Kristan was known for her easy and infectious laugh. She was quick to recognize the need for a celebration and enjoyed planning and hosting both elaborate parties and everyday surprises. She loved board games and competition of all sorts (likely because she always won). She was an amateur sleuth who undertook expansive research projects to answer any questions posed to her. Kristan was endlessly curious and had an eye for design. She took interior design courses at West Valley College and earned certifications in graphic design from Cabrillo College, skills which she put to work making her world beautiful. Kristan was also a dedicated fan of the Golden State Warriors and travelled to Cleveland to witness her team win the NBA finals against the Cavaliers in 2018. While she always enjoyed a walk around the neighborhood or on West Cliff, she recently developed a new passion for high intensity exercise. Kristan and Larry could often be found attending a SPENGA or Club Pilates class.

Throughout her life, Kristan enthusiastically and skillfully took on the role of caregiver and team-leader for her husband and children, her grandchildren, her siblings, her colleagues, her pets, and all those in need of acceptance and support in the communities she helped nurture. Her singular goal was to make those she loved happy. In her last years, Kristan became a grandmother and relished the opportunity to raise a new generation. Though her children had spread across the country, Kristan kept her family close with frequent visits and by sharing constant updates in the family group chat. Her favorite days were spent with her husband, children, grandchildren, and pets all together.

Kristan is survived by loving husband Larry; daughter Chelsea and her partner Benjamin Webb; daughter Gigi and her fiancé Alex Baloff; daughter Laurel and her partner Dylan Limanek; son Jack; daughter Olivia; grandchildren Luna and Lily Limanek; mother Lois; and siblings Mike, Pat, Nancy, and Julie. Her family invites all who knew Kristan to honor her memory by living each day with a joyful spirit and boundless love.

The Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday May 17, 2025 at Holy Cross Catholic Church (126 High Street) in Santa Cruz beginning at 11 a.m.

A vigil ceremony will be on Friday evening May 16, at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel beginning at 6 p.m. The committal service will follow the funeral mass and conclude at Santa Cruz Memorial Park.

In celebration of Kristan’s life, the family kindly requests guests wear blue attire, a color she cherished.