Obituary of Edward Conrad Ripp

Westport, Conn.

Edward Conrad Ripp of Westport died peacefully at home following a short illness on August 4, 2017. He was born February 20, 1931 in Sand Brook, New Jersey, the son of Karl Ripp and Helen Anderson Ripp.  Ed moved with his family as a toddler to a farm in New Hampshire but the family moved once again to Staten Island when he was still a young boy. He spent the rest of his boyhood in Staten Island, growing up as one of eight brothers and sisters, first generation Americans whose parents and older brother had emigrated from Estonia.

Following graduation from Curtis High School in Staten Island in 1948, Ed served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his military service, he attended Ohio State University on the GI Bill, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.

Ed met his wife Jean C. Szekely back in Staten Island and they wed in 1958. The couple moved to Connecticut in 1959 settling in Westport, with a year’s hiatus living in the Netherlands in 1960 where their first child was born.

During his career as an engineer, he worked as project manager at Bunker Ramo Corporation, and later at Pitney Bowes as a Senior Engineer, where he retired after more than 20 years.

Ed was an avid golfer, gardener and devout Christian.  His family joked that his top favorite things were the three “G’s” (golf, gardening and God – maybe not in that order). He was a longtime member of Longshore Country Club in Westport where he was especially proud of hitting a hole in one in May 1999.  In good weather when not on the golf course, Ed enjoyed tending his garden, growing everything from squash and green beans to his beloved tomatoes.

Ed is survived by his wife, Jean, their daughters Gail Ripp Buck and her husband George of Rangeley, Maine and Carolyn Ripp Snyder, her husband David and his two grandchildren Emma an Eliza of Wilton, CT. He is also survived by his siblings Oie Sokota of Great Neck, NY, Rudolph Ripp of Staten Island, NY and Helen Carstens of Long Island, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 208 Newtown Ave, Norwalk, CT. Family visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. at the church with a service following at 11:00 a.m. 

Burial will follow here in Willowbrook Cemetery, Westport.

A.J. Collins Funeral Home of Norwalk has been entrusted with the arrangements.