Earlier that day, Allen Van Deynze, Cris Heitmann’s major professor, signed off (approved) Cris’s master’s degree thesis. Cris had just begun a high-level position as a production nursery manager for Dirscoll’s, in Redding, California.

Heitmann, 32, originally from Chile, came to UC Davis in 2014, working with Allen Van Deynze and Alan Bennett in Plant Sciences on an international maize project. Van Deynze said, “Cris had excellent skills as an agronomist with exceptional attention to detail and understanding of plant sciences.”

While at UC Davis, Cris was on the board of directors of the Chilean Students’ Association. He was also passionate about triathlons. He qualified for the top IronMan competition in Kona, Hawaii, 2019, and was listed as one of the top three athletes to watch.

At the time of the accident, Cris Heitmann was on a bicycle when he collided with a motorcycle on Highway 151 in Shasta County, near Shasta Dam. Heitmann died at the scene. A memorial reception and a celebration of life were held for Cris Heitmann on April 22 in Davis. Cris touched many people at UC Davis and will be fondly remembered. A scholarship in his name is being planned.