John A. (Chip) Berning, Jr. of Hendersonville, NC, passed away peacefully on April 26, 2022. A native of Skaneateles, he graduated from Skaneateles High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University. Having been awarded the Duke Fellowship, he completed a Ph.D. in mathematics from Duke University in 1978. Chip worked for the Center for Naval Analyses where he was based in Washington, D.C., and then Brunswick, ME. He suffered from a debilitating automobile accident but went on to teach mathematics at St. Elizabeth’s College in Morristown, NJ, and later at the Blue Ridge Community College in Hendersonville, NC.
Chip was known for his great mathematical mind along with a love of poetry, Shakespeare and music. He had a ready smile, a kind spirit, and a warm sense of humor and was a cherished friend to many.
Chip is survived by his brother, David and his wife, Helga of Cranbury, NJ, along with his niece Jessica and her husband Vasilios and their children Nikko and Isabella as well as his sister Beth Schramm of Matthews, NC, and his nephew Matthew Schramm and his niece Molly Schramm.
A memorial Service to celebrate his life will be held at St. James Episcopal Church in Skaneateles on Tuesday, June 14, at 11 a.m., followed by burial at Lakeview Cemetery.
