Christopher Talley, 53, Vero Beach
Christopher Talley, 53, of Vero Beach, passed away on April 28, 2018, after a brief illness. He was born on Nov. 23, 1964 in Roanoke, Va., one of three children to Edward and Caroline Talley.
He attended Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke where he played three varsity sports, graduating in 1983. He earned a B.A. in biochemistry, graduating in 1987 Magna Cum Laude from Washington and Lee University. He was awarded membership to the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, played college baseball and was selected for the GTE Academic All American Baseball Team.
He is a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. His time in the training room at Washington and Lee sparked his interest in medicine, specifically orthopedics. He followed his dream and earned his doctorate in medicine from the University of Virginia in 1991 and finished his orthopedic residency at The University of Florida in 1996.
Following residency, he completed a sports medicine fellowship with Dr. William A. Grana in Oklahoma City where he honed his well respected diagnostic and surgical skills, with emphasis on shoulder and knee arthroscopic procedures. He then became a member of the Duke University Orthopedic team with attending privileges in Durham, Roxboro, and Creedmoor, North Carolina. He received board certification in Orthopedic Surgery in 1999.
In 2000, he relocated to Vero Beach to partner with Dr. Peter Wernicki at Pro Sports, Inc. During his time in Vero Beach, he served not only the people of the Treasure Coast but was a team physician to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Vero Beach Dodgers, Saint Edward’s High School, Vero Beach High School, and various semi-professional teams hosted by Historic Dodgertown.
His passion was sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery, total joint replacement and taking care of young athletes. Chris was an avid sportsman, collected vintage small caliber rifles, enjoyed building target rifles, coached little league baseball, and loved watching his kids play high school and club sports.
He enjoyed the outdoors, specifically hunting and fishing and the camaraderie of Fantasy Football with his friends.
He possessed a wealth of knowledge about college and professional players. His intelligence across many subjects was equally matched by his passion for his children and his work.
He is survived by his two children, Jack, 18, and Rachel, 14, and was especially proud of his children’s academic and athletic achievements. Survivors also include Melissa Evans Talley, Ralph and Roslyn Evans; his father, Edward Talley, Sr.; his brother, Edward Talley, Jr., and a sister, Lisa Talley Taylor. He was predeceased by his mother, Caroline Talley.
A Memorial Service will be held at 4 p.m. on May 14 at The Community Church of Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in his honor to the Community Church Youth Ministry Program, 1901 23rd St, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
