Christian A. Pahl, Esq. of Malden died on Jan. 28, surrounded by his loving family. He was 53.

He was born in Springfield on Sept. 28, 1969, the son of Barbara Pahl and the late Dr. Irwin R. Pahl.

Martha’s Vineyard held precious memories for him. He spent childhood summers at his family’s vacation home on South Beach. He and his siblings enjoyed early-morning clamming on Katama Bay and gathering with friends at South Beach in the evening.

He was a 1987 graduate of Longmeadow High School where he excelled at lacrosse and football. He earned his bachelor of arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and then graduated with honors from Massachusetts School of Law as assistant editor of the Law Review.

Christian’s love of sports, energy and charisma led him to Woolf Associates, where he was legal counsel for sports marketing and athlete representation in the golf division.

After moving on to EMC Corporation as a legal liaison for event and sponsorship contracts, he worked as an attorney with Monahan & Padellaro in Cambridge.

In 2008 he formed Pahl Law P.C., focusing on civil and criminal litigation and representing indigent clients as a public defender for Suffolk County.

He is survived by his beloved mother, Barbara Pahl of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; siblings Russell Pahl and his wife Lynne of Vienna, Va. and Karen Pahl and her husband Joseph Polito of Slingerlands, N.Y.; nieces and nephews Jason Farley, Taylor Farley, Ryan Farley, Caroline Polito, Trip Polito and Christian Polito; and his devoted Scottish terrier Scobie.

His service will be held privately on the Island.

Memorial donations may be made to the Vineyard Conservation Society, P.O. Box 2189, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or online at vineyardconservation.org.