Christopher Malcom Pecharka

Christopher Malcolm Pecharka, 63, passed away suddenly on August 11, 2026 after battling an aggressive form of lymphoma.

Born on October 16, 1962 in Washington, PA, he was the sixth of seven sons to parents George Pecharka, Sr., and Ruth (Nestor) Pecharka of Canonsburg, PA.

He is survived by his wife, Tracey Ranelle of Moorpark, CA; brothers and sisters-in-laws George Jr. and Janet Pecharka of Meadowlands,

PA; David and Kathy Pecharka of McKee’s Rocks, PA; and Joe and Carolyn Pecharka of Sagle, ID. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Since the age of six, Christopher discovered his life’s calling in drawing, painting, and sculpting. After graduating with a degree from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1982, he relocated to Southern California to pursue artistic opportunities where he worked in a myriad of occupations in the art world, including: 

 Artist at Left Bank Art, La Mirada, CA, where he painted paintings as pseudonym Sam Nash. He also introduced and designed intaglios which became a new selling product for the company.

 Fine art exhibitions of his paintings in galleries located in Laguna Beach, Corona Del Mar, Dana Point, and San Clemente, CA.

 Owner of Pecharka Fine Arts, where he had a sales booth of his original art at the annual Art Walk on Del Prado and the seasonal Art Festival at the harbor in Dana Point, CA.

 Art Director for The Ocean Institute, Dana Point, CA.

 Cartooning and illustrations of published books.

 Patent artwork for the dental industry.

 Designed water fountains and architectural landscaping for musician Rod Stewart.

 Designed water fountains for His Highness the late King Hussein of Jordan.

 Designed and oversaw construction of a 35 foot tall banyan tree for the Denver Botanical Gardens.

 Sculpted tile design for Malibu Tile.

 Album LP covers for The Freeks, Stephen Lomas, and John Krauss.

 Scale models and special effects sculpture and large scale prop sculpture for the entertainment industry, such as movies, music videos, television commercials, zoos, theme parks, and museum exhibits.

In Dana Point, CA, Christopher was awarded the following public commissions, all which he conceptualized and designed:

 A 7-foot-tall bronze sculpture “The Top Men” depicting sailors at sea on the tall-ship Pilgrim, located at The Ocean Institute’s ship dock.

 The Veteran’s Memorial, a bronze sculpture of an imposing eagle-and-shield mounted on a pillar, located at the Veteran’s Memorial Park.

 An open-book design bronze sculpture “Home Port for Romance” with bronze figures and scenes representing Dana Point history. It is located at The Doris Walker Memorial at Heritage Park.

 The Nature Interpretive Center wall mural depicting a historical scene of local interest.

Christopher was extremely talented and a remarkably versatile artist of extraordinary range, mastering many styles and subjects. He was a renaissance man. He wrote and illustrated a 42-chapter children/young adult adventure novel, which his wife plans to pursue publishing. He also wrote essays, short stories, and a book of poetry. He enjoyed reading classic and historical literature, listening to podcasts, and watching old movies, historical documentaries (especially Ken Burns), and nature programs. He loved cooking and could have been a chef. His favorite thing to do upon meeting people was to tell them jokes and making them laugh. Most of all, he enjoyed traveling with his wife.  They traveled to Mexico, Hawaii, and the Caribbean; Paris, France where he proposed to his wife at the top of the Eiffel Tower; England, Scotland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Spain, and Morocco. He loved culture, history, learning new languages, exploring cuisine, meeting and staying in contact with new people, and most of all, studying all of the paintings and sculptures in world class museums, cathedrals, and public places.

Christopher’s works are showcased on his website www.ChristopherPecharka.com. His brothers are planning a memorial near Pittsburgh in the Fall.