JIPP LESTER FREDERICK Age 87, of Columbus, Ohio, died Sunday morning, July 20, 2014. He was born December 30, 1926, in Union Township, Iowa, the eldest child of the late Otto Hans and Dora (Runge) Jipp. He married Lois Ruth Newmark on June 16, 1956, in Montreal, Quebec. She preceded him in death on April 13, 1999. Surviving are his children, Patricia (Daniel) Finkelman of Granville, OH, Peter (Priya Shyamsundar) Jipp of Arlington, VA, Leslie Vasquez of Columbus, OH, and Ian (Hye Yu) Jipp of Chicago, IL; eight grandchildren, Leah and Micah Finkelman, Tulsi and Kabir Shyamsundar Jipp, Christopher Vasquez, Maria (Nate) Silver, Grace and Josué Vasquez; great-grandchildren, Isaiah and Daniel Silver; sister, Ellen Kimblad of Spencer, IA; brother, Robert (Beverly) Jipp of St. Charles, MO; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, Lois, Lester was preceded in death by grandson, Alcides Antonio Vasquez. Raised on a farm in NW Iowa, Dr. Jipp began his educational career in a one-room schoolhouse. He went on to earn his bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa, a master's degree from the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in history of education from Carnegie Mellon University. His career in education spanned six decades, including stints as a high school social studies teacher and administrator (in New Hampshire and Vermont), college professor (at Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA) and as founder/director of The Learning Juncture in Worthington, OH. At the time of his death, he remained a passionate and active advocate for innovation in public education. Lester was an avid camper and bicyclist, and a voracious e-reader. He began most conversations with "Did you see the article in the New York Times about
?" He took enormous pleasure in time spent with his family and friends on multiple continents, challenging all of them to work harder, think bigger, do more and write more often. A celebration of Lester's life will be held on Sunday, August 3, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at Wesley Glen Retirement Community, 5155 N. High Street, Columbus, OH, with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wesley Glen Retirement Community, 5155 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43214 or to a charity of the donor's choosing. Send condolences post-gazette.com/gb
