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Tamara Estelle Lipson
Tamara Estelle Lipson passed away on January 5, 2013 while out for her daily morning walk. She was born in Syracuse, New York on May 11, 1927. After high school her family moved to southern California where she became a lifelong sun worshiper. Tam graduated from UC Berkeley and attained her masters' degree from St. Thomas. It was in Berkeley where she met the love of her life and future husband, Ben Lipson. They married on August 15, 1948 and settled in Long Beach where they both became teachers for the LBUSD. Tam and Ben were active in the Teachers' Association and known for hosting teachers' parties where Tam served her famous bourbon balls. Tam's professional career was spent teaching elementary students at Helen Keller, Robert E. Lee, and Minnie Gant. Throughout her life, she delighted in crossing paths with her adult students and rejoiced in their accomplishments. It was in Long Beach where Tam and Ben raised their three sons and daughter. Her accomplishments were many. She acted enthusiastically in Little Theater. She was a founding member of Long Beach Friends of the Public Library where she started the monthly book sales. As a member of League of Women Voters, she specialized in educating people on the numerous and complicated ballot initiatives. In her later years, she attended Osher Life Long Learning Institute (OLLI) at CSULB. She was remembered in the popular Shakespeare class as reading her parts with great feeling and understanding. She was a world traveler who chronicled her adventures in handwritten journals that brought life to the many cities she visited and people she encountered. Tam immensely enjoyed playing Scrabble with her daughter, Jan, and her alter ego, Estelle. She did the Jumble each day and never left it unfinished. Tam was preceded in death by her husband, Ben Lipson. She will be missed by her survivors: son Michael Lipson of Venice Beach; son Phillip Lipson of Hollywood; daughter, Jan Lipson and son-in-law, Bruce Potter of Long Beach; son, Steve Lipson and daughter-in-law Katherine Lipson of Ventura; sister, Mim Andelson and brother-in-law, Sherman Andelson of Los Angeles and granddolls, Irving and Hayden. Donations may be made in the memory of Tamara Lipson to Osher Life Long Institute of Learning/CSULB Foundation, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., HSE #100, Long Beach, 90840 or Friends of the Long Beach Public Library, 101 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, CA 90822.
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I can't believe she's gone. She should have lived another 10 years, as did her mother. She really cared about the world and had no patience with politicians who didn't share her beliefs in making this a better place!
June 8, 2013
In 1980, Mrs. Lipson was the teacher in the class next door to me at Minnie Gant Elementary School where I was an aide to Mrs. Ruth Morris. Both incredible teachers and will be inspirations to me always. Mrs. Lipson had at that point not learned to thread the 16 mm projector and would always ask me to help her. But even then I could see the big picture that threading a projector was not teaching and that teaching was not from a desk but from the heart. I loved her enthusiasm and I can still see her unique gait as she walked like no one else could. Mrs. Lipson, you will be truly missed. Thanks for all you did for the students of LBUSD. May you rest in peace.
Cathy Roth Dorsett
January 28, 2013
Will always remember the great parties at your house. Diana Baldwin
January 20, 2013
From what I've read here, I'm almost sorry that I didn't have Tam as a teacher when I was young; it sounds as if she was as special then as when I met her after she retired. I've had the privilege of sharing the Thanksgiving holiday with her almost every year for the last fifteen or so years. She was as gracious a guest as she was a host, and I always looked forward to catching up on her travels, her walking, writing, shopping, and political commentary. Watching her interact with Jan and with Steve was just plain good theatre. Her pride of, and admiration for, them and for Bruce and Katherine as well was endearing to see.
There is a hole in my heart now as I think of her, but my life is better for having known her and having shared time with her. May we all be as lively, as feisty, and as independent at age 85 as she was!
Jan, Bruce, Steve, Katherine, Michael, and Phil, my thoughts and sympathies are with you.
Lauri Aylaian
January 18, 2013
Mrs. Lipson was my 2nd grade teacher at Keller. I still remember her sunny disposition and sweet face, even though i am now 53 years old. She also was my aunt's teacher (I don't remember which grade) who is now 73 years old. Godspeed, Mrs. Lipson.
Terri Temple-Landers
January 17, 2013
What amazing memories I have have of this incredible woman! By far, Mrs. Lipson was my favorite teacher ever. She made a huge impact on me and the lives of so many children. I always think of her walking in her very tall, wedge shoes. Thank you for such great memories!
Sharri (Coyne) Collins
January 16, 2013
Tam was so full of life! She was keenly interested in current events and public policy and knowledgeable about many things. She got me involved with NCJW. I'll miss talking with her.
Ann Millman
January 15, 2013
OLLI Memoirs class will not be the same without our 'Sergeant at Arms'. Tam was the first one to greet newcombers and learn their names. She was an exceptional writer. I thought I had heard all about her life, but never knew how many people she had influenced until I read these comments. Sadly, ~~Fly~~
Ann Cantrell
January 14, 2013
Tamara always had a smile on her face & enthusiasm in her voice. She will be missed!
Cindy Anderson
January 14, 2013
Tam will leave a big hole in our class!
Carol Willner (memoir class)
January 14, 2013
My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Mark McKee
January 14, 2013
Room 22 was never, and will never again be the same. Safe travels, Mrs. Lipson. You will be remembered!
Kristiana Kincaid
January 14, 2013
My deepest condolences to your family. I was in Mrs. Lipson's 2nd grade class in 1966. Her wonderful walk stands out so vividly in my memory, not only as a child seeing her storm across the playground while on duty, but also as an adult when I would see her walking along the beach in Belmont Shore. I could tell it was her from half way down the peninsula. She touched so many, many lives.
Debbie Norman Knapp
January 13, 2013
My thoughts are with her family in this sudden loss. Dearest Tam was the best Master Teacher when she shared her talents and love of teaching with me in Spring 1967. I still have the mug she gave me as a momento of our time together. The children of Long Beach were all so lucky to have her as their teacher. The student teachers were fortunate to have her as their mentor. Her love of teaching lives in the hearts and lives of those she mentored. She will be missed.
Christine Brodie
January 13, 2013
I met Tammy in the Memoir Writng class at Oscher Lifelong Learning Institute. She was the spirit of the class and always kept us in line. She will be dearly missed.
Laurence Elfenbein
January 13, 2013
Tam was a bundle of energy and opinions, a gifted writer, a "ham" at heart. We shared the same birthday. I grateful that she helped out with the OLLI Memoir class and kept all of us in line. In her stories, she artfully "described" her friends, neighbors, and those she traveled with. She will be missed.
JOSEPHINE FITZPATRICK
January 13, 2013
I'm deeply saddened by the news of Tam's passsing. Ben and Tam were incredibly positive influences on my career as an educator...I'm so grateful to both of them for touching my life.
Carl Cohn
January 13, 2013
She was my fourth grade teacher. She made me feel good about being a strong girl. I remember how much she loved Ben. Glad she is finally reunited with him....
Aly Mancini
January 13, 2013
Tam's sudden and too-early departure from this life shocks and greatly saddens her many friends at the OLLI. She was an active participant in our classes and added greatly to the joy of our continuing learning experiences. We will miss her very much. I offer my sincere condolences to her family.
Carl Curtis
January 13, 2013
She taught my children in 4th grade and the memory of what a great teacher she was is still with us over 30 years later.
gail nestor
January 13, 2013
Dear Lipson family,
My son Ben was in Tam Lipson's fourth grade class in 1982, and she was an amazing teacher. She spoke of him as "another Ben". Later I would see her walking in the mornings when I was out- but could never have kept up with her pace. She was a wonderful, feisty spirit for our kids and our community, and I'll remember her with such fondness.
Dee Abrahamse
January 13, 2013
Many words can be used to describe my mother-in-law but the one word that stands out is "extraordinary".
January 13, 2013
Thanks to Tam for the example of a life lived well. My sincere condolences to the family and friends.
Alice Porembski
January 13, 2013
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