--Jav
2024 April - sharing the link to Chip's remembrance video that was compiled last year. See below for time stamps. Much love, Charissa
CHIP IV on Vimeo
2023 April – 10 Year Remembrance. This year makes 10 years since Chip transitioned. To honor his memory, I decided to put together a 30-minute video featuring our close friends and family. This compilation highlights their fond memories. Listed below is the timestamp outline. Thank you to everyone who participated. Chip was an inspiration to many of us and he continues to be remembered for his integrity, kindness and big, loving heart. Much love, Charissa
CHIP IV on Vimeo
Intro Music (Chip’s guitar played by Casey)
00.10 Emily, Javier (friends)
01:36 Nimone (friend)
02.57 Chet (father-in-law)
04.11 Margaret (mother-in-law)
05.11 Mika (friend)
06.49 Gail, Jeff (friends)
07.28 Kate (friend)
08.13 Olga, Javier (friends)
09.41 Uri (friend)
10.44 Alexis (niece)
11.28 Kevin (friend)
12.34 Danielle “Dany” (niece)
13.34 Brooke (niece)
15.14 Dolly, Sophia (sister-in-law, niece)
16.22 Fred (brother-in-law)
17.48 Patrick (godson)
18.32 Vida (friend)
19.52 Alex (godson’s brother)
20.38 Uncle Ranjan (friend)
21.19 Sharalynn (friend)
22.22 Yon (friend)
23.25 Casey, Kim (godson and wife)
24.48 Andy (brother)
26.02 Carrie (mother)
26.27 Charissa (wife)
29.24 Casey playing Chip’s guitar
29.49 Tyler (godson)
2022 April. CHIP….He knew that the full Windsor was classic but noted that had gone out of style. He subscribed to GQ, Whiskey and Cigars – stayed current but classic. He had the old brush and shaving cream, just like my dad had when I was growing up in Africa. He didn’t care for fluff, relished everything about life. He was interested and fascinated by the stars, anything physics, all kinds of religions, beliefs, people. He used to tell me that he could people watch all day. Just sit and watch. Loved games with skill and thought. His mind was always busy, always doing something that used his mind. He loved working with his hands. He took pleasure creating, making things beautiful. Loved woodwork, he loved working with wood. Patient and impatient, with great attention to detail, great pride in the work he did with his hands. He loved history and things that were old, but he also loved gadgets and the newest of the new. Always went for quality, not anything cheap. “It lasts longer if it’s built right Reese,” he would say, so we’d spend a bit more $$ and get quality.
He came from a state that had and has big pride. He went to a ‘labeled’ school, something I never got to do and always wanted to. But that didn’t affect his humility and sense of real – but he had pride about his upbringing, his schooling, how he lived. He treated everyone with love and kindness. He talked people up, made them feel like they were something special. Humor, he was so funny. His humor was dry but super witty and smart. Never mean to anyone even self-deprecating in his humor. That took a special kind of talent and empathy. He was so kind and funny, so funny. Movies. He loved the most bizarre, disturbing ones to things as light and mindless as Clueless; from off beat B flicks to the heavy Reservoir Dogs, and Clockwork Orange. He loved music and his taste in music was as diverse as his interests in movies. He was comfortable to be around and with himself. But he was actually a very shy guy, but that added a lens of real and caring. What a wide spectrum and he stayed current too, in music and the latest video games. He loved the ocean, he loved swimming. When he was in the ocean, he’d be lost in another world of discovery with all the fish, sea creatures and plants. Looking through his eyes, were looking at something through eyes of wonder and newness. I swear he was a fish in another life. If he had gills, he’d live in that underwater world. He could stay there for hours exploring. He lived in the now every single day.
2021 April. Earlier this week, I came across a picture of Chip and one of his colleagues Gil, at ENGEO (see Gallery tab photo 8, ENGEOBowling 011). It was at a group bowling activity taken exactly 1 day before Chip passed away. As I looked at the picture, I kept and still keep looking at it thinking to myself, these two look so happy and content like everything is fine. Who knew that 24 hours later, everything would change? Just like that, in a blink of eye, life changed completely. Chip always lived in the moment. #livefortoday#foreverlove
2020 April. Sometimes, it's the simplest of words....
❤️ Chip, my heart, my love ❤️
Tributes
Leave a tribute--Jav
We miss you, buddy.
Sharalynn
Missing your hugs.
xoxo
You're in our thoughts and hearts as much as ever. Miss you, buddy!
Blessings
Marcus and Leticia
You're in our hearts and in our thoughts!!
Chip was a great guy. We all loved him. And you, Charissa, are a great lady and we all love you.
Wishing you the best,
--Jav
I miss Chip every day and think of him with great wistfulness and gratitude that he graced our lives with his warmth, humor, love and integrity. Truly one of a kind. Taken from us far too soon. A colossal loss of a truly outstanding man, friend and colleague. I will always remember his laugh, his kindness and his friendship. And I will always remember how very much he loved you.
Catherine
We have a prayer for the departed in our Russian Orthodox tradition -
We pray for a "peaceful and blameless death". That was given to Chip by the grace of God. I pray that you continue on your journey toward peace and well being. May God protect you and keep you. Sending love.
Miss you very much, my friend.
Marcus & Leticia
Leave a Tribute
--Jav
We miss you, buddy.
Garbage can train pass
Charissa:
Scott and I are in the kitchen remembering when you were here with Chip, Gail and Jeff. Scott, Bradley and I were laughing how he held you upside down to get my train pass that you accidently threw away. Gail and Jeff wrote about in in Januayr 2014 but the story still lives in our memory of the fun time we had and what a special person he was! Hope you are well and know you are always welcome in Scarsdale NY!
All our love,
Sue and Scott
Oh so many stories.....
This one is a short one. We embark on one of many business trips, this one to Phoenix, AZ. Not knowing where to stay, not wanting to be in a bad part of town but also not wanting to spend a fortune on a place to sleep we decide on a place near the airport. We chose the Vagabond Inn. It looked clean and seem to have business people there (note this was in the day-time). Well we spent the day doing meetings, had dinner and went back to the Inn. On or way to our room we noticed a few people at the other end of the second floor cat-walk. We looked at each other and smiled, our look to each other said 'no it couldnt be'. In the room a little while later after settling down watching TV and having a Rum & Diet Coke....There was a knock on the door. Chip opened the door was aone of the women that we had seen earlier. And yes our earlier look and unspoken thoughts to each other was confirmed. Chip graciously and wittily declined the womans offer, thanked her and closed the door. We both laughed and had another Rum and Diet Coke.....
I'm not afraid to say it took a few drinks to get this out. The words seem to escape me every time i try.
As a child Uncle Chip and Aunt Charissa's house was a release. It was a vacation we took three to five times a week, where I had the freedom to swim and feed fish, and be in a place where a 6th grade opinion was always valued.
As i grew i drew myself away from others. I felt that i knew what was best for me and no one could tell me otherwise. This introversion ultimately led to my own suffering.
I got myself together too late, but he saw me find direction.
He saw my wedding.
He saw my enlistment.
I wanted him to see me become a soldier.
I wanted him to see the birth of my son.
My son will be humble.
My son will be welcoming.
My son will be charismatic and sport the witt of a thousand men.
My son will know the man for which he is named.