Christopher M. Tombline has been working in the funeral industry since 1989 and has been a NYS Licensed Funeral Director since 1992. Chris joined the Gutterman’s Inc. Family Funeral Homes in 2003 and is now the Executive Manager and head of the Pre-Plan Department. In addition to the daily interactions with a family that are a normal part of being a funeral director, Chris also handles the marketing and networking for Guttermans where he works to ensure the company can be viewed as a resource for families in need or ahead of time to all their eldercare  or estate  planning needs.

As part of the Gutterman Team, Chris has sought out and assembled a network of reliable professionals to confidently refer to families, and depending upon the circumstances, he can competently and efficiently offer help when called upon.

He works with and refers to Elder Care or Estate Planning Attorneys, Geriatric Care Managers, Daily money Managers, Long term Care and Life Insurance Specialists, Licensed Master Social Workers as well as Psychologists. He can also help guide those in need of Assisted Living, Nursing Home or Hospice placement services.

For Chris, the most important thing he can give to the families he serves is his time. “My time is their time,” he says. “…until I’ve made sure that they are comfortable, and that we’ve covered and addressed every single one of their concerns, so they know they have made the right decision in trusting us.”

Chris understands that, though the funeral home industry is steeped in tradition, it’s changing. “We have to change with it as well and with the needs of the people we serve,” Chris insists.

When away from the office, Chris enjoys his time with his wife Kelly and their four beautiful daughters. Their passions include vacationing, bow hunting, fishing and hiking. Chris always welcomes the opportunity to get on the basketball court or a baseball diamond. Deep down, he dreams of one day returning to the stage full time, trying his hand again at stand-up comedy.

Throughout his tenure at Gutterman’s, Chris has been deeply involved with many different charities, thanks to the strong support and dedication of the Gutterman family. In the past 15 years, he has strapped on the gloves no less than five times to step into the ring as part of the  Long Island Fight for Charity, an organization for which he has also served as an executive committee member.  Other charities he’s worked with include the Michael Magro Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Awareness Basketball Classic, the Lymphoma Leukemia Society and the MS Society.