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History: The Chip Holt Nature Center in Vitale Park on Conesus Lake is a not-for-profit entity, built and managed by citizens of the Lakeville community. In 2008, we began offering interpretive and outdoor recreation programming for local schools and the public.

Chip Holt: Chip was the Chief Engineer and executive in charge of directing the conception, development, and launch of Xerox’s innovative DocuTech product line. In addition, he was a Distinguished Alumni of Drexel University and a member of the Alumni Circle of Distinction. Thanks to Chip’s contributions and that of the DocuTech team, the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) honored Xerox in 2003 with the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for the creation of DocuTech.

“Perhaps more than any person since Chester Carlson, inventor of xerography, and early company executive John Dessauer, Chip provided technical vision and leadership that transformed the Xerox Corporation,” said Charles B. Duke, colleague of Chip’s, noted physicist, and retiree of Xerox. “Chip was both the architect and initial implementer of the DocuTech product line.”

Chip’s wife, Kathy, described him as “layered” – so very complex; you worked down a layer at a time. He loved golf, teaching, history, clocks, all music except jazz (!), the piano, children, sailing, fitness and exercise, telling jokes, fishing, gardening, and more. But at the end of the day, engineering anything and everything was his passion!

Chip died September 24, 2005 with grace and dignity – “always a gentleman.”

Our Mission: To provide interpretive (natural and cultural history) and outdoor recreation programming to the public and schools for the stewardship of Conesus Lake and environs and the ecosystem of the Finger Lakes. The Center is an invaluable source of education and information regarding the lake.