Another link in the legendary Stilwell chain has been broken with the news that Chris Stilwell has died in the Algarve of a heart attack, aged 63.
The Stilwell family has been a reference point for Anglo-Portuguese relations for over a century when Chris’ grandfather arrived in Lisbon in 1904 and took a Portuguese wife.
One of the sons from this union was tourism icon John Stilwell, Chris’ father, the ‘man who built Penina’ in the ‘60s, went on to run several tourism businesses and was awarded the gold medal of the "Order of Merit for Services to Tourism" for his lifelong dedication to tourism.
Chris Stilwell was born in Lisbon but his heart was in the golf courses and hotels of the Algarve, and was described today by the president of the Algarve Tourism Board as, "one of the greatest figures of Algarve golf.”
The board’s president Desidério Silva said this premature loss leaves the region's tourism all the poorer as Chris was a "great golf industry booster in the region" as president the Algarve Golf and played an active role in the development of the Portugal Masters.
"The Stilwell family was the precursor golf in the Algarve, and was responsible for opening the first 18-hole course in the region. This was an important first step in the Algarve, which now has 40 golf courses and more than a million rounds played annually. This is part of the Stilwell legacy in the region," said Silva.
Chris Stilwell had tourism in his blood and began his business career as a resident director of the Hotel Alvor Praia in 1980, became administrator at Alto Golf, entered Algarve Golf as director in 1990 and then went on to chair the body. It was in this capacity that he was involved in the Portugal Open competitions at Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Penina.
In 2005 he took over as responsibility for golf operations of the Oceânico Group where his interest in young players spurred on the golf schools which have introduced many young people to golf management and the game itself.
Christopher Stilwell also was a founder and the vice-president of the Associação dos Hotéis e Empreendimentos Turísticos do Algarve (AHETA) and also was a racing enthusiast connected for years with the organisation of Formula 1 speedboat races in Portimão and the Jetski World Championships in 2005.
In a statement, the AHETA commented today, "The premature death of Christopher leaves a void in Algarve tourism, especially in the area of golf tourism. It is recalled that his family were instrumental in the construction of the first golf course in the Algarve in 1965 and the Hotel da Penina, two major quality reference points for Algarve tourism."
Chris Stilwell died on Thursday 29th October 2015.
