Christopher James Fannin, 62

Christopher James Fannin (Chris) died suddenly at age 62 on October 9, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Christopher was the son of Minxie and James Fannin Jr. of Acton.

He is survived by his wife Jenny Lovell and sons Peter and Lis Fannin of London. He also leaves his sister Jolanda Fannin and husband David Marvez of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as well as their daughter Paige Taylor and son Forrest Marvez of Boston.

Christopher graduated from Acton-Carlisle High School and, after a postgraduate year at Phillips Academy Andover, received a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. He then entered the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating with a bachelor’s in landscape architecture. Following that, he attended the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, where he earned a master’s in landscape architecture and urban planning.

After graduation from Harvard, Christopher taught at Florida International University and then the University of Virginia. There he met Jenny Lovell, RIBA, a visiting architecture professor from England, and they soon married. Their twin boys were born in Charlottesville. Chris and family later lived in St. Louis and Hong Kong.

Ever enjoying athletics, Chris played lacrosse first for Acton-Carlisle High School, then Cornell. Side by side with his two young sons, he later acquired skills in skateboarding and rock climbing.

Interested in art from an early age, he first focused on painting, but later turned to large-scale metal sculpture. He also became aware of the built environment through touring with his mother, an architectural historian. It was in graduate school at the Rhode Island School of Design that he discovered his true calling — landscape architecture.

After moving to and working in London, Christopher had the opportunity to join KEO International Consultants, Kuwait, as managing director of InSite, the landscape architecture/urban planning division, a position he held at the time of his death. Referring to Chris as “among the first international landscape leaders,” Landscape Middle East described Chris as “devoted to creating spaces that brought people together …  the connective tissue of human life.”

Christopher leaves behind not only his family but innumerable friends and acquaintances.