Christopher David Ow, a member of the prominent Santa Cruz real estate family, died recently in a Southern California motorcycle crash, according to family sources. He was 54.
Ow was a property manager with Ow Family Properties and was the on-site manager at King’s Village Shopping Center in Scotts Valley.
He had a lifetime love of motorcycle riding and racing, and traveled throughout the U.S. as a competitive BMX racer in his youth. He won the title of World Champion of his 12-year-old division.
He was born in Carmel, moved to Santa Cruz with his family when he was six months old and lived the rest of his life in Santa Cruz County.
A graduate of Soquel High School, Ow attended Cabrillo College and Chico State University, where he studied business management.
Tributes started pouring in as word spread on social media. Longtime friend Danny Reber called him “a good man and a kind and gentle soul.”
“He was one of the sweetest guys I ever met,” said family friend Geoffrey Dunn. “He was very devoted to his family.”
His family describes him as a loving and caring father to his two children Amber and Austin, and his life partner, Carmen Garcia.
He is also survived by parents David and Judy Ow, sisters Karen and Sharis and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
