The Hooper Loop - In memory of Chip Hooper

10th March 2016

“IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CONNECTION” ~ Chip Hooper

This is a place to share your stories with Chip. The connection you had with him. Experiences you shared with him. The lessons he taught you. The quotes you remember. Chip would often say that he was at peace leaving too soon as long as he taught those he left behind to live every day to the fullest and to be grateful for every day.

Click here to submit a story.

5th August 2020

Dear Chip

~ Shared by Paisley Piasecki ~

I know it’s been quite some time since this site was created, but Chip has been in my thoughts lately and I am grateful to the family for giving us this space to share. Chip is a key person in my personal and professional development. I first met Chip in high school, when he, Val, and I had dinner to talk about my interest in careers in entertainment. Chip (or Mr. Hooper, as I first called him) was the first person who fully understood my dreams of working in the industry and encouraged me to chase them with everything I could give. I was thinking of attending law school and possibly becoming a producer or agent, and he was very confident that I could do it with the right mindset and skills. He explained that anything could be possible with hard work, passion, dreaming big, and never being above taking any job or opportunity that puts me closer to my goals. A few years later, I spent time with Chip again in New York when visiting Val. During college, I would share updates with him about my internship adventures. I remember his last text

26th October 2018

Impact

~ Shared by Steve Roschelle ~

I never met Chip, but I feel connected to him through Crashing Waves & Splash, which I have owned since 1999. His legacy, beyond the friendships he made, will always remain through the impact that his images have on those of us lucky enough to have found them. I have many B/W photographs but that remains my favorite and continues to give me pleasure and take me to a place far away from the negative energy so prevalent in society today. Thanks Chip.

5th July 2017

Memories that make me smile.

~Shared by Jon Topper~

I will never forget being on the phone with Chip while he was riding in the car with Max. Chip made me by a bunch of Xmas wrapping paper that Max was selling for either school or a team. After about a 5 minute debate I had with Chip on why as a Jew I do not need so much Xmas wrapping paper I pulled out my credit card and supported. I was going to do it no matter what but to hear Hooper convincing me was worth the fun. 3 moves later I still have a few rolls of the wrapping paper.

2nd February 2017

Friend

~Shared by Darnell Alonzo Givens~

I had the pleasure of spending time with Chip and Max during my travel basketball coaching days with Pump ‘N Run. He was one of the most generous human beings I ever met. He was a stand up guy that was fun to be around. Rest in Peace.

10th December 2016

In My Thoughts…

~ Shared by Leslie Owens~

Chip,

Miss you so much and love you!! A couple things I think and smile about at this time of year………..your calls to me on Xmas Eve over the years as you would be out doing your last minute shopping and buying items in “3’s” like Apple computers, iMacs, iPhones, i-anything, I guess whatever the latest tech thing was. And your calls to me on New Year’s Eve from exciting places like Times Square, backstage at concerts and fancy hotels. I will imagine those calls this year and just smile………………..

Hugs to you,

Leslie

27th November 2016

A Letter Like Old Times

~Shared by Adam Morris~

Chip,

I miss you, but even though the memories of you can make make me sad I love to think about the great times we had, like when you taught me to ride a bike and tricked me into riding to the next and the next and the next lamp post until I did my first lap around the concrete loop, or when you yelled at my dad for not getting me a hover board. I wish I could talk to you about how Tamara’s hair looks nice, or what my favorite photo of your’s was. I wish I could hug you one last time, before I say goodbye.

Stay strong

Adam

(This one is my favorite)

6th October 2016

Drive Slow

~Shared by Khalid McCaskill~

Chip Hooper was a funny man.

It’s late October and I am at CHOMP with Max and Chip. Chip had suffered a stroke just the week before but was seemingly getting better by the hour. After spending 14 hours in the room sharing stories, eating Lil Swiss and Chinese food, its time for me to go home. I had been staying at the house in Carmel and driving Chip’s car to and from the hospital.

As I am looking around for the keys, Chip says “Khalid, I need you do to me a favor.”

“Yea, Chip. What’s going on?” I respond.

“When you get back to the house, I need you to take the weed that is in my trunk and put it in the garage.”

“Oh for sure Chip. Will do.”

“Thanks. It shouldn’t be much. Probably around 4 pounds.”

“Yea, yea no doubt. I will take care of that.”

Of course, I try to play it cool but deep down my heart is racing. The thoughts running through my head include, “what if I get pulled over?”; “will they believe that it doesn’t belong to me?”; “I’m going to prison”; “I won’t do well

18th July 2016

Chip and I

~Shared by Michael Lewis~

Always thinking of ya buddy!!!…esp. when I’m buying wine and i can hear your voice telling me I’m buying crap!!

15th May 2016

His Voice

~Shared by Isabel Morris~

You never think about how important someones voice is until you stop hearing it. We all knew Chip’s voice was magnificent, but I never thought I’d spend hours just looking for an Interview to hear that voice again. We all know the voice. It’s loud and booming, but also caring and welcoming. Today has been particularly rough for me. I’ve been thinking about Chip, a lot. I miss him, a lot. I asked my dad to send me one of the voicemails Chip left him. I opened it, worried that it wouldn’t be the same voice I remember, but of course it was. It was Chip. If only I could hear him say, “Listen to you” one more time.

15th May 2016

CEO – LuxJet Group

~ Shared by Randy J. Africano ~

I met Chip when he was 19 and I was 26. I was living in Peoria, IL when I got a knock on my apartment door. My downstairs neighbor said his son was part of a band out of Chicago, Pegr, and that his band was playing in Peoria for a couple of nights, could not afford a motel and could their manager and two of the guys stay at my place. I was leaving for the weekend with my girlfriend and you can only imagine the thoughts running through my head… my place was going to be trashed when I returned home. So I decided to wait and meet the band and their “manager,” Chip Hooper… and I will remember that moment for the rest of my life. Before me was a force of nature, a 19 year old kid that had just quit college because he loved the music business and he was going to be a part of it… period. He knew what he wanted and was laser focused on his goal but this steely determination was uncharacteristically packaged in a kind and gentle soul, albeit exuberant.

When we returned