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Gary Mayhew Obituary
Gary Richard Mayhew would rather not make a fuss over his death on October 26, 2021. He died at home on hospice for end-stage COPD at the age of 76. Born in California to Bill and Dorothy Mayhew, he inherited his dad's dry sense of humor and his mother's kindness.
The family moved to East Palistine, Ohio, then settled in Albuquerque, where Gary lived the rest of his life. Gary graduated from the University of New Mexico, where he studied mathematics and teaching. He took time out to serve in AmeriCorps VISTA and avoid going to Vietnam.
He became an itinerant teacher in the Albuquerque Public Schools, traveling to the district's high schools to teach mathematics to gifted students. He judged the annual Math Counts competition and took the tests to ensure the problems were correct.
Music was a large part of Gary's life. A talented guitarist who completed Larry McGinnis' Folk Guitar Workshop in 1975, he also taught guitar lessons. He played English Country dance and Contra dance music with Boxwood Consort and Mad Robin, and a wide range of songs with the Wednesday Night Pickin', Grinnin', Drinkin' and Lyin' Society. His gifted playing and humor brought joy to all who knew him.
He loved intellectual pursuits, including reading science fiction and horror, playing board/strategy games with "the boys," and enjoyed dining out, good food and fine wine. He himself did not cook. He avoided goat cheese, mushrooms, onions, and cilantro.
He had no wife or children, which was fine with him. But many friends sorely miss Gary. He is survived by his sisters in California, Debbe Noto (spouse Chuck Pendell) and Patti Winkler (spouse Donald Winkler), and nephew and nieces Joshua, Sadie and Madison Winkler.
An outdoor memorial service will be held on Friday, November 5 at 5:00 p.m. in Altura Park, at Hannett and Aspen Avenues NE. Please bring a chair to sit upon, a photo or story to share, and an instrument if you play!
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Gary Mayhew
Dale Kennedy
July 29, 2024
I am entering this belated memory because I was just thinking of him and a Google search turned up this obit. Gary was a musical friend in a Santa Fe based musical ensemble called Melismata. We performed early music. I didn´t know him well but enjoyed his company and sharing music. He was a very easy companion to get along with, and he sang and played guitar well. After I moved from the area in 2016 we corresponded several times, the last time only a couple of months before he passed. Typically, he didn´t dwell on his condition, which must have been much worse than he let on.
Dave Hilland
July 22, 2024
Gary, Mr Mayhew, was well known as a math teacher
Chris
July 7, 2024
Gary was my favorite teacher. He had a gift for teaching math.
Byron Postma
March 22, 2022
I was so sorry to see this. Gary and I were good friends since about 1960 and periodically roommates at UNM in the 1960's. I last saw him in 2018 and had planned to visit in 2020, but the pandemic intervened.
Ken Maier
November 8, 2021
Gary was my geometry teacher in 1972 at Sandia. He was the best! I´ll bet all his students remember the way he contorted his mouth to help us remember Abscissa and Ordinate. I used it and many other Mayhew-isms in my teaching. But unlike Gary I did try to match my socks each day! I was lucky enough to teach at Sandia while Gary was still coming over for Calculus II! It was great to get to work alongside the best!
David Swift
November 7, 2021
Never had Gary as a teacher at Sandia, but my sisters did. Always heard great things about his classes and him bringing his guitar to play for students. He was a well-loved teacher. Thank you for your bright light Mr. Mayhew.
Lynzee Browning
November 5, 2021
Condolences to Gary's family and friends. No doubt he is missed. Gary was a friend I sadly lost touch with upon leaving NM. His door was always open and his home was filled with lively music, intelligence, and humor. A kind soul and rare human. Rest in peace, Gary.
Therese (Hall) Wright
November 5, 2021
Gary was my AP Calculus 2 teacher, and due to scheduling conflicts so that I could participate in band, even though he came to Manzano 1st period for 5 other students twice a week, he came back at 6th period twice a week to teach me 1 to 1. I loved his humor and try to emulate him with my own humor in my career as a high school math teacher to this day. I will always remember the goofy story he told to teach me about Grad F that involved speeding along a mountain curve in a "Yugo" and deciding, poorly, to accelerate...the result of which would have me doing a quick calculation while falling to my death. I enjoyed teasing him as my absent minded professor when he broke his arm tripping over his cat in the middle of the night or cut his forehead on the cabinet while doing dishes. Most of all, I remember his smile.
Janet (Bell) Conrey
November 4, 2021
I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Mayhew's passing. I was just thinking of him a few days ago, and I was also lucky enough to reconnect with him over a phone call a few years ago. I was able to tell him what an influence he had in my life---he gave me a love for Geometry which I then had the opportunity to teach to 8th graders here in California. He would bring in his guitar to our class on Fridays and I loved that he would play for us and we could sing along if we wanted to while we solved problems. One song that has always reminded me of Mr. Mayhew is "Here Comes The Sun." What an amazing teacher he was. I know that many of us benefitted from having him as their teacher. He will be missed but not forgotten.
Kim (Hicklin) Kaplan
November 4, 2021
Mr Mayhew was the best math teacher! He will be missed. RIP
Cheryl Donovan
November 4, 2021
He was a great teacher, friend and musician. Somewhere in my music collection is a tape of him singing and playing his guitar.
Rest In Peace
Madelon Jamme Brown
November 4, 2021
So sorry to learn of Gary's passing. I never met Gary, but he was a close friend of my sister, Margaret Jamme Brizzee. She always spoke fondly of Gary and how she enjoyed his music.
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