Geoffrey M. Mayo (1944 – 2022)
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Geoffrey Mayo passed away on December 11th at his home in Connecticut surrounded by his loving family.
Geoff's FLIX '66 video before the 50th reunion shows him hard at work at the office as he summarizes his career.
Memorial Service
Geoff touched many people's lives and hearts. To honor, remember and celebrate him and his life, the family (Lynn, Eliza, Lucy and Will) will host open house receptions in their New York City loft to which all are encouraged and welcome to attend. We look forward to sharing stories, memories and special moments together. Please join us.
Receptions
Thursday, December 15th | 3:00pm–7:00pm
Friday, December 16th | 3:00pm–7:00pm
Saturday, December 17th | 1:00pm–5:00pm
Location
58 West 15th Street, #7, New York, NY 10011
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Geoff's honor to support and restore threatened habitats in Woodbury, CT.
Contributions may be made via this link, which also contains photos of Geoff and his family. Condolences, memories and pictures may also be shared on this site and can also be shared on this memorial page by responding directly to 66_CommTeam_tiger1966.org.
Memories and Tributes
Jim Holman:
"Geoffrey Mayo was one of the closest friends I took away from Princeton. We roomed together junior year in 1938 Hall, with Heminway, Black, Andreamananjara, Watrous, Cook and Ingersoll. An interesting mix.
"I think it was a shared sense of humor that made us close. Geoffrey was mischievous and often provocative. He poked me ceaselessly about Wagner (especially an anvil, thunder and lightning moment in Das Rheingold). His revenge for that was to play, equally ceaselessly, the Drifter's version of "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas." Nor did he let me off the hook for rants against "creeping socialism."
"We remained pretty close until recent years. We were both courting future wives junior year. Diana and I partly honeymooned at the Mayo's Cadogan Square home on our way to Lebanon in August '65. I was an usher at his wedding to Sanna. I visited Geoffrey and Sanna many times, and then Geoffrey and the beautiful Lynn at the 15th Street loft --- which was both home and office.
"Most appealing, perhaps, was the contrast I thought I saw between Geoffrey's private humor and his dedication to his public craft. Even I could tell he was a master at film production and direction. He had a spectacular career in his chosen field --- television commercials.
"But beyond his professional successes, Geoffrey was a gentle and generous man. This one hurts."
Lanny Jones:
"A few words about Geoffrey Mayo.
"I knew Geoffrey at PU and even better in the years after we left Princeton. In the late 1960s, we both began working in New York and shared an apartment at 16 Charles Street in Greenwich Village. But after I met my future wife Sarah in 1968, Geoffrey graciously and loyally decided that three was a crowd. He moved out, and Sarah moved in.
"In the years since, our families became close, and we saw him often at birthday parties, Reunions, and other celebratory occasions at their beautiful loft on West 15th St. Geoff paid us an especially lovely visit in Montana in 2001 for fly-fishing and fun.
"The best adjectives all apply to him -- curious, kind, good-humored, loyal -- a source of strength for many of us, then and now."
John Bright: "Indeed a touching moment. And yes, Jeff was a roommate and a special one. I recall his first wedding in Connecticut, as well. And when he lived in NYC he let me use his apartment when I had business in the city. We caught up last when he was visiting Bay Area. Hussein Adam was also our roommate for part of that year. Vaya con Dios, Dear Jeff.
John Heminway: "As Jim Holman mentioned, we roomed with Jeff our junior year. Quite a rollicking collection of luminaries. Jeff especially. Even then we knew he possessed many creative gifts, and a wonderful sense of humor. Even then I knew he was bound to make a difference. I am not surprised he enjoyed a hugely successful career. My great regret is that I saw little of Jeff after Princeton— a sad failing on my part since our paths had every reason to cross. Jeff should not have died so young."
Additional Photos