Roland "Chip" Stevens, III

Roland "Chip" Stevens
Pultneyville - Roland "Chip" Stevens passed away on October 31. He died peacefully, at home, surrounded by loved ones. His generous spirit leaves a legacy of vibrant watercolor paintings, historical research and documentation, and archaeological collections.

Chip had many interests, but he excelled at watercolor painting. He used his considerable talent to depict landscapes, marine scenes, animals, and document historic buildings. He was a signature member of numerous national organizations: the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, the Whiskey Painters of America, the National Association for Marine Artists, and the American Watercolor Society. In addition, he belonged to several local organizations: The Philadelphia Watercolor Society, the Pittsford Watercolor Society, Niagara Frontier Transparent Watercolor Society, Central New York Watercolor Society, and the Rochester Art Club. His paintings grace the walls of many homes and public buildings in the area. One of the interesting ways Chip used his art was to meet with Brooks Tenney, Alex Reed and John Westerberg every Monday at the Candy Kitchen in Williamson They called themselves the Monday Morning Breakfast Club. Chip brought a print of his painting, and after discussing it at breakfast, Brooks, Alex, and John each wrote poems based on their own interpretations. They returned the following week with their completed poems, and the process was repeated with a new painting. The paintings and poems were published weekly in the Williamson Sun and Record. We often ran into people who told us that the first thing they looked at in this weekly publication was the Monday Morning Breakfast Club column. The group eventually published two books of paintings and prints! In addition to painting, Chip enjoyed many other activities: He skied for at least 75 years until age 82 when age-related injuries prevented him pursuing his favorite sport. He served for over 20 years with the Bristol Mountain Ski Patrol and was a longtime member of the National Ski Patrol. Chip was a golfer and enthusiastically played with the PGA, the Pultneyville Golf Association. He found great enjoyment in the camaraderie of this group. He loved sailing and spent more than 40 years as a member of both the Pultneyville Yacht Club and Pultneyville Mariners Club. In subsequent years, Chip explored Lake Ontario looking for shipwrecks with Jim Kennard, Dan Scoville, and Roger Powlowski. This group of avid shipwreck hunters found and documented over 14 wrecks in the 16 years he did this with them. Chip served as the team artist, reproducing an artist's rendition of each shipwreck they found. He recently donated his entire collection of shipwreck paintings to the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, New York. As if that wasn't enough, Chip was also an avid amateur archaeologist He enjoyed field research and aimed to learn more about Ice Age Indigenous peoples through their recovered tools and artifacts. He was member of the Central New York Archaeological Society and enthusiastically participated in digs at a newly identified site near Utica, NY. Finally, he played the bagpipes and marched with the City of Rochester and the Shriner's Pipe bands for 20 years or more. Chip frequently applied this specialized skill at formal events, including weddings and funerals, providing piping services for family and friends.

Chip was born in Chicago in 1940. Many people think that his name, Chip, comes from the saying a "chip off the old block," it doesn't. While his formal name, Roland E. Stevens III, comes from his father, Roland E. Stevens, Jr., the name Chip comes the delightful character Mr. Chips from the book Goodbye Mr. Chips by James Hilton. His parents were reading this book when Chip was born, they liked the character so much and Chip was such a cheerful baby that they started calling him Mr. Chips. Chip is the name by which most individuals continue to recognize him today. Chip graduated from Brighton High School and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science from The University of Rochester, a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Syracuse University. He eventually worked as a senior planner for Wayne County and then as a New York State Registered Architect for Sear Brown, DeWolfe Architects and LaDue Architects.

Following graduation from Syracuse in 1973, he and Georgia moved to Pultneyville. As a boy, Chip spent weekends and summers visiting his grandparents, Fred and Florence Cornwall of Pultneyville. He cherished those times and later wanted to spend time there as a full-time resident to see what it was like. He remained a Pultneyville resident for 52 years, up until his passing. He died listening to the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks in front of his beloved home. Throughout his time in Pultneyville, Chip was intrigued by history and enthusiastically researched old houses and former residents of the area. He generously shared his acquired knowledge with members of the historical society and newcomers to our village. He left a legacy of big-heartedness and involvement that will carry far into the future.

Chip is survived by his wife of 55 years, Georgia originally of Lake Placid, New York. He is the oldest of six siblings: Caroline Mayher (Bill) from Brooklin, ME; Debra Rutherford (David, deceased) from Seattle, WA; Elizabeth Palmer from Newcastle, ME; Peter Stevens, MD (Gayle Maloney, deceased; Susan Dolan) from Salt Lake City, UT; and Pam Scinto (Dal Blumhardt) from Belvue, CO.

Chip was extremely loyal and loving to his family and friends, of whom he had many. People were attracted to him for his talent, knowledge, and unique perspective on life. His absence will be sincerely felt.

There will be a celebration of Chip's life at 2:00, June 27 at the Pultneyville Yacht Club, Hamilton Street extension, Pultneyville.

In lieu of flowers, please send donatios on Chip's honor to the Genesee Land Trust, 46 Prince Street, Suite LL005, Rochester, NY 14607-1023

Please write a memory or condolence to the family by visiting www.youngfuneralhomeny.com

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