Watch CBS News

Davis Childhood Friend Mourns Loss of Libyan Ambassador Stevens

DAVIS (CBS13) - The Davis community is mourning the loss of the U.S. ambassador to Libya, who was killed by an angry mob in an attack at the U.S. Consulate on Tuesday night.

J. Christopher Stevens, 52, was more than a childhood friend to John Natsoulas.

"Chris was a fun, wonderful, outgoing (person)," he said. "Loved skiing, loved tennis, was really interested in peace, and was really interested in a lot of cultures. He learned languages really easily."

John and Chris go way back. They grew up on Fordham Drive in Davis.

"He was somebody who had a lot of love in his heart and was really interested in the better for mankind," John said.

John, owner of Natsoulas Art Gallery in Davis, knows the family is grieving after learning of this tragedy.

"My heart goes out to Mary and Jan (parents) and goes out to Tom and Anne, his whole family, all the Stevens family," he said.

John and Chris grew their friendship during their time together in elementary and junior high school.

"We all feel this loss more personally than the patriotic loss we have," said Pamela Mari with the Davis Unified School District.

John tells CBS13 that the news hasn't hit him yet, and that he's struggling with it.

"I lost a piece of me," he said. "The way he died and what happened to him is very sad because I think it could have been prevented," he said.

Following junior high, Stevens moved to the Bay Area when his parents divorced, where he attended Piedmont High School and UC Berkeley.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.