Chip Rice

Chip "don't call me Harold" Rice was a great storyteller-as long as you had lots of time and patience. Before you had a chance to say "yes" to his question, "have I ever told you about?", Chip would launch into a story about meeting Robert Frost at Kimball Union, his shenanigans in the Navy or playing rugby against Prince Charles. It delighted Chip when his grandson Emmett joked that he kept a spreadsheet of all Chip's stories and the frequency he told each one.

Chip and his wife Ann, loved to travel, and while many people collect souvenirs, Chip collected friendships. A B&B proprietor from Wales, a root beer baron from Glasgow, and some RV'ers from Germany are a few of the people Chip convinced to visit him in NH. He was always game to try the local cuisine-like guinea pig in Ecuador and salt cod in Nova Scotia-but his family wasn't always as excited when he brought the recipes home with him.

Chip was the original hipster-he made hummus "before it was a thing", carried a manbag, travelled to Manchester for Rooster Sauce, made his own pita chips, roasted his own coffee, and rocked a mean goatee. His hairstyle was lovingly known as the "grenade look" and he was happiest in saggy jeans and a coffee stained sweatshirt. But on special occasions, he pulled out all the stops, with his Scottish kilt, tailored jacket and every accessory. Chip never did anything halfway.

When he experimented with raising sheep, he had a herd of 50. His $2 bill collection turned into a $100 pad, his fridge overflowed with condiments, he had buckets of walking sticks in every room. When he bought a vintage army jeep, he also made sure to get 5 engines, 10 tires, and countless headlight covers. He had horehound candies delivered in bulk and an endless collection of small containers and jackets (with lots of pockets.)

Chip was a practical and creative joker who made people laugh-but was serious when it came to community. He dedicated his life to helping others. Whether as Executive Director of Rockingham County CAP, CEO of Bancroft Products, or as a NH state senator. He loved living in Concord and was passionate in his work with refugees, organizing community discussion groups and representing the South End in the NH House. His ability to look beyond difference and find mutual understanding made him an inspiring leader and mentor. His most recent project was supporting the creation of the John Winant statue, which was spawned by his obsession with the book Citizen's of London (have you read it?!)

Everyone knew Chip-because he took the time to genuinely know the people around him. He developed personal relationships with his pharmacists, doctors, receptionists, bank tellers and cashiers at the local market-a trait his children admired (and adopted) but one that also made running errands with him an extended affair. To know Chip, meant knowing about the lives and family members of those he interacted with and where every caregiver went to school.

Chip had a wicked sense of humor, which his three kids, Andrea, Kari, and Carl, all inherited, and are passing on to his grandchildren; Drake, Emmett, Sally and Mirabel. This humor will carry us through the difficult times ahead.

His dogs were his constant companion-Tinker, Max, Dakota and Izzy all found a happy spot under Chip's hand. Most of all, he loved his wife Ann-who sang him silly songs, shared his love for travel and people, and made him smile every day.

Chip died on Wednesday, January 3, in the way he had hoped-at home, without medical intervention, with his loving wife and children holding his hands. His family-both by birth and by choice-will continue to share his stories.

To celebrate Chip's life, there will be an open house at the Kimball-Jenkins estate on Thursday, January 11 beginning at 4:00, with a sharing of memories starting at 5:00. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to www.concordhomeless.org. Or, better yet, Chip would want you to invite your neighbor over for a cup of coffee.