09/24/2026
To our friends and family in THE FLEET,
It is my sad duty to inform our membership that we have lost one of our members. Chris Mumford of the USS QUEST unfortunately took his own life Tuesday morning.
We met Chris around two years ago and were very quickly drawn to him. Chris had an amazing smile and electric energy. He had so many questions about our club, comments about Star Trek, and enthusiasm for our goals.
Chris was always helpful and creative. He helped set up big events, like the last Long Beach Comic Con run by the USS QUEST. He worked with Admirals and our Fleet engineers to set up fun QR code games involving ‘alien plants’ that he designed, with a fantastic amount of detail. And who could forget Percival, the Fleet's first cetacean ops officer, a large stuffed dolphin Chris dressed in his chapter’s uniform?
I remember my personal conversations with Chris. He would make me smile. We could joke around. He joined us at the Universal Studios Star Trek display, where we took our picture together, in a very official ‘stuffy’ kind of way. Then he wanted me to take pictures of him at the different bridge posts before we were “escorted” out. Chris helped to make each event more memorable.
It is never easy saying goodbye, especially under these tragic circumstances.
There are so many unanswered questions. We may never know all the answers. Su***de is rarely about one thing, and no one here is to blame. What we do have is one another for support.
I want to share this thought from a member of the USS WINDRUNNER on the topic.
“If you haven’t talked to someone in a while, reach out.
Ask them how their day is going. Ask about their week. Invite them to grab a cup of coffee. It may seem like a small gesture, but it can have a much bigger impact than most people realize.
I say this as someone who once tried to take his own life: connection matters more than we sometimes know.
A simple text, phone call, or invitation can remind someone that they’re seen, that they matter, and that someone is thinking about them.
You never truly know what someone may be going through behind closed doors.
So reach out. Check in. Stay connected. Sometimes the smallest gesture can mean more than you’ll ever know.”
To Chris’s family and found family. I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that our Fleet of friends is better for having had Chris in our ranks.
To the crew members of the USS QUEST. I am sorry for the loss of a fine officer, and more than that, a great friend.
To everyone in THE FLEET: Those who knew him spoke highly, and I wish everyone else had had the chance to know him. Our core value is to bring community together, and Chris helped us with that. Now, we lean on one another more. Our mission has never been clearer. Building our community of friends. There is so much pain in the world, and often hope seems lost, or at least so distant. Turn to one another. Reach out. Make a new friend. Connect with an old friend. Allow others to be there for you.
With a broken heart and fond memories,
Phil Morgenthaler
Fleet Admiral
THE FLEET – A Star Trek Costuming Fan Group
