Orville Matthes “Ty” Tice

Orville Matthes “Ty” Tice passed away peacefully on December 23, 2021 at the Murano Senior Living Community in Seattle where he lived with his loving wife Wendy Paul.  He was 86 years old.

Ty was born Jan 17, 1935 to Alma and Egbert Tice of Woodbridge, Connecticut.  He attended Hillhouse High School in New Haven where he played football, earning All-State honors and a scholarship to Harvard University, and in later years an induction into the Hillhouse Hall of Fame.  He played both rugby and football while at Harvard, starting at left tackle on both offense and defense.  He graduated with a degree in Political Science in 1956, and married his first wife and college sweetheart Barbara “Bobby” Farnham shortly afterwards.

Ty was enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps while at Harvard, and he and Bobby moved to Harlingen, Texas where he served as a navigator in the Air Force.  After his service the couple returned to Connecticut, eventually settling in Guilford where they raised their three children.  In Guilford, Ty became convinced of the importance of protecting the environment, and he worked to establish the first recycling center in the town, to set aside some of the remaining undeveloped land for future generations, and to preserve the town’s beauty and character by serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Eventually Ty’s growing passion for the environment led him to leave a successful career in business and finance and enroll in the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies where he earned his Master’s degree.  Upon graduation from Yale, he took a position with The Nature Conservancy at their Washington, D.C. headquarters.  Following that he moved to Seattle to join the Mediation Institute where he worked for many years resolving disputes regarding natural resources.

A long-time resident of Pike Place Market, Ty served that community in many capacities, including being a director of the Medical Clinic there and president of his condominium association.  He and Wendy also found time to travel the world together.  Ty was a lifelong adventurer who shared many memorable rafting, canoeing, backpacking, skiing, and camping trips in his beloved Volkswagen Westfalia camper van with his family and friends.  He inspired many with his intelligence, optimism, class, toughness, generosity, perseverance, and the grace with which he aged.

In keeping with his love of the natural world, Ty has chosen to have his bodily remains composted by Recompose, the world’s first human composting funeral home.  A “laying in” ceremony will be conducted for family and friends by Zoom on Friday, January 21, 2022 at 1:00 PM PST.  You can join by clicking here on the day of the ceremony: https://recompose-life.zoom.us/j/89208167631

Ty is survived by his wife Wendy Paul of Seattle; his three children: Scott of Spooner, WI; Meredeth (Virgilio) of San Diego, CA; Karen (Mayberry) of Manchester Center, VT; and six grandchildren: Lincoln & Reid Tice, Kaitlyn & Marika Mayberry, & Cole & Anna Virgilio. Charitable donations in memory of Ty may be made to an environmental organization of your choice or the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation.  Professor Wilson passed away a few days after Ty did.  May their shared love of the earth and the natural forces that shape it continue to do good in the world beyond their lifetimes.