Vincent Christopher Dimapilis

In Memory of Vincent Christopher (Coops) Dimapilis “You can shed tears that he is gone or you can smile because he lived. Your heart can be empty because you can't see him or you can be full of the loved you shared. You can remember him and only that he's gone or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what he'd want: smile, open your eyes, and continue to live on.” Vincent Christopher Dimapilis was born in Rota, Spain on July 16th, 1964 to Alfonso Dimapilis and Concepcion Mendoza. He was a natural born United States citizen as his father, Alfonso, was in the United States Navy, stationed in Rota, Spain. After living in the United States for the first several months of his life, his father retired from the U.S. Navy and moved their family to Cavite City where Chris would spend most of his childhood. During his childhood in Cavite City, Chris took an interest in bicycle motocross (or BMX), becoming the leader of his own BMX group. The name of the BMX group was "Pretty Boys" with an ugly BMX Rider on the character's bike. The group had over 20 members, which formed a partnership with the 3-member Pasay BMX Riders. Both groups would visit each other from Cavite City to Pasay and back. Along with other members, Chris would stand on the bike's frame leading a Saulog bus to San Raphael in the midst of long bike trips. Chris went by the nickname “Freestyler”. He would sometimes reflect on how he was able to bunny-hop over 10 people. At age 17, Chris moved to the United States, on his own, to pursue education. He resided in Ventura County, California where he attended the Ventura County Community Colleges, receiving an Associate Degree in Engineering. At the same time, he would form relationships with other Filipinos in the Camarillo and Oxnard area, which would later form the “barkada” known as Attack. To his friends, he was known as Coops or Coopsie, for his basketball style mirrored that of the Los Angeles Laker, Michael Cooper. Chris had his first two children, Brentley and Haley, with Elizabeth. In 2003, Chris and his two children visited the Philippines on a month-long vacation, along with the Vistro family. There he met his future wife Janice in the city of Muntinlupa. Together, they had their first child, Kirsten. Chris’s proudest moments in life were being a caring father to his children Brentley, Haley, and Kirsten. On July 31st, 2011, after a full day of visitors, Chris took his last breath with his wife and first child present in the room. He must have waited until everyone left before he would pass this world. Although he has left this world, he will forever remain in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him. May he rest in peace.