MAYNARD J. MANSFIELD

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4017 Maplecrest Rd.

Fort Wayne, Indiana

MAYNARD MANSFIELD Obituary

MAYNARD J. MANSFIELD, 85, died peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015. Born in Marietta, Ohio, he was a son of Walter O. and Lessie Ullmann Mansfield. He married Sharon K. Slack in 1975. Maynard received his PhD in mathematics from Purdue University in 1956. He served as a math professor at Washington and Jefferson Colleges before joining the faculty of Purdue University in Fort Wayne in 1963. A founding member of the IPFW faculty, he served as chair of the mathematics department and the computer science department, and finally as Dean of Engineering and Technology until his retirement in 1994. He received an honorary Doctor of Engineering from Purdue University in 1998 at which time he was described as "thoughtful, loyal, and a principled role model." Maynard enjoyed flying and was proud to use his Piper Cherokee as an Angel Flight pilot. He enjoyed golfing among friends at Arlington Park Golf Course. Surviving are his wife, Sharon of Fort Wayne; daughter, Nancy Curtis of Mill Village, Pa.; seven grandchildren; sister-in-law, Norma Mansfield of Fort Wayne; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Pamela Mansfield Kearley; parents; and brother, Walter Jr. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Calling is from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2014, at D.O. McComb & Sons Maplewood Park Funeral Home, 4017 Maplecrest Road. Memorials may be made to the Maynard J. Mansfield Mathematics Scholarship through the IPFW Foundation. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.domccombandsons.com

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Published by Fort Wayne Newspapers on Feb. 10, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for MAYNARD MANSFIELD

10 Entries

James Aust

September 6, 2020

Dr. Mansfield was very encouraging when I was a student at IPFW. He was a nice man as well.

Lisa Greenway

February 18, 2015

I've known Maynard for many years. He was such an intelligent, witty, and kind man. I was so saddened by his loss. He will be greatly missed. My prayers go out to Sharon and family.

Linda Fusco

February 14, 2015

I have always enjoyed speaking with you and Maynard on my walks in the neighborhood with my dog Cosmo. So sorry for your lose.

Linda and Clara (Brixham Place.)

Christopher Peifer

February 11, 2015

15 years ago, my parents packed up my childhood home, and moved to a new neighborhood, very walkable, to a house really perfect for them, with good neighbors. I met Maynard and his wife, Sharon, on one of the walks I take with my Mom. It may have really been Gabby, their friendly Springer Spaniel, who got us to stop that first time.
Maynard was a couple generations my senior, but our friendship ensued over many summer visits and Yuengling Lager, during which I learned some interesting background: He was a retired college professor and dean, and still consumed the most current technical and scholarly publications. He once owned and flew a plane, vacationing summers in Cape Cod. Finally, trading his the wings for wheels, he drove to their Florida home each winter. He had a large antenna poking up from behind the house. A long-time Ham radio operator, harkening back to communications of the previous century, he also had a foot in the current millennium, being online (albeit a much less romantic, tangible, mystery-unraveling experience).
Of special interest to me, he was a songwriter, arranger, and home recordist. Most of his repertoire came from the Big Band era. In his younger days, he toured the Midwest, playing saxophone in a real Big Band. He showed me an old photo – a bunch of sharps in wide-lapelled suits, slick hair, with guitar, bass, drums, piano, lots of horns! Now he arranged and recorded digitally, playing all parts on a MIDI keyboard. Over many years, we'd share, long-distance, the material we'd produce, and give each other feedback, opinion, advice, ask a lot of technical questions, talk about the gear we used. Every Christmas, he'd make a collection of the past year's best recordings, and present them as gifts, including originals, Christmas traditionals, songs by Hoagy Carmichael and Cole Porter, “From the Keys of the Hammond B3”, something entitled “Martini Evening” … !
Well, Maynard, I wish we could enjoy a cold Yuengling together this coming summer, but I'll toast your memory. Here's to your long life, well spent. Thanks for sharing part of your experience with me. Thanks for the friendship and the music.

Brenda Groff

February 11, 2015

Maynard, thanks for hiring me all those years ago in the computer science department. You will always have a place in my heart. My deepest sympathy to Sharon and family.

Lisa Leeper

February 10, 2015

I never got to meet Mr. Mansfield but heard a lot about him thru my father-in-law Bob Leeper who worked with him as well as played lots of golf! Our Condolinces to the family!

Pat Farrell

February 10, 2015

Oh Maynard...I'm going to miss your music!

Margaret Hobson

February 10, 2015

Without a doubt, the best math teacher I ever had! Dr. Mansfield was an inspiration.

Bill Frederick

February 10, 2015

Peace be with you.

Lisa Raymond

February 10, 2015

Dr. Mansfield will always have a special place in my heart. He's the person who hired me in the Mathematical Sciences Department and Computer Science Department, we were from the same home town, different times of course. He was an awesome, boss, friend and colleague, he will be greatly missed, May you rest in peace Dr. Mansfield.

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