In fond memory of William C "Chip" Mayse on November 2, 2024 by Gary Murakami
William C "Chip" Mayse was a founding member. While it seems so long ago, well, not as far back as Abraham Lincoln, the personal impact on our lives has similar importance; we are honored to remember him by what we say here.
Chip graced us daily with his many wonderful qualities - brilliant intelligence, academic and military experience, august comportment, resonant singing voice, prodigious memory, thoughtful wisdom, gentle humor and puns, excellence in all endeavors, respect for people, and love for family, friends, and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Chip was the elder statesman that guided us through our advanced degree efforts and life in grad school. Chip already had two masters degrees and informed us that he was being biblical by getting a third since “No man can have (paraphrase for "serve") two masters.”
Chip would remember people and events that we did together with great accuracy and detail.
We remember singing together in the choir - Chip was a great reader and I would listen to him for the correct notes. He noticed my Sunday Brooks Brothers dress shoes and with his military experience, said “There’s nothing there that can’t be fixed with polish and a good shine.”
We remember biking together, going further by a cornfield which was another mile; heading out into the wind so that we could have it at our backs on the return leg. There was a memorable time when Chip broke the chain on his bicycle. We got in our cars and looked for him for over an hour, only to find that he had returned home and was waiting for us long before by using his bicycle as a scooter - I now have a pet rabbit named Scooter. We went on an extended bike trip and what I remember most was singing golden oldies in the car. We drove to the wedding of Gail Lotto and Steve Karlovsky.
After completing his Ph.D. in Computer Science with us, Chip moved to Washington, DC and worked for PowerScene. I remember walking Dave Luginbuhl’s dog named ASCII and seeing his immaculate new Audi polished with carnauba wax. We were very happy for him at his wedding to Anne and visited them in 2011 during the US Open Golf Championship at Congressional Golf Course.
My wife Linnea and I bought an Audi from a dear friend Alfra Cross who died from COVID. We remember her often when we drive it, and it will remind me of Chip.
Before leaving New Jersey to come here, I jogged my memory. I washed my car for the first time in over a year. While I did not wax it, if I do, I will use carnauba wax. I polished and shined these shoes to wear here. And I sang in the car on the drive here. I intentionally did these things to remember and honor Chip. I will listen for him when I miss a note in choir.
“It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.”
And I’m sure that in heaven Chip is studying for more advanced degrees, singing golden oldies, and praising God in the choir.
