Arthur P. Hipwell

HIPWELL, ARTHUR P., 62, died at his home of a heart attack on May 28, 2011.

Art was a very accomplished man, but even more, he was a great human. He had great demands on his time while a former Senior Vice President of Humana, from which he retired in 2008, but he always had time for the less privileged among us, particularly the youth. He helped numerous students through scholarships, but even more through counseling and guidance. He had a deep devotion to his children, stepchildren, nieces, nephews and other children that he took under his protective wing. Art was very active in civic and charitable affairs, including long-term service as a member of the Board of Directors of the Trinity High School Foundation, Assumption High School, the DePaul School and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), as well as being a great supporter of the University of Notre Dame. More than that, he was a very active advocate and supporter of a long list, and wide variety, of people who came to his attention as needing help. His generosity for those he helped was only matched by his zeal and enthusiasm for them.

Despite his accomplishments, Art remained down-to-earth. He also had a great sense of humor, although he could be curmudgeonly. He was extremely loyal, and was the ultimate foxhole buddy.

Art was born in Mechanicville, NY on January 5, 1949. He graduated from Trinity High School, graduated in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame and received his law degree from the University of Louisville. He worked for what is now PricewaterhouseCoopers after graduation from Notre Dame, and worked for both the Jefferson County Attorney and what is now the law firm of Frost Brown Todd. He joined Humana's Law Department and concentrated in securities, mergers, acquisitions and tax for Humana before becoming General Counsel. He also served briefly as General Counsel of Galen Health Care, the spin-off of Humana's hospitals. Art was a Renaissance man. In addition to his great skill with numbers and the transactional side of law, he had a passion for, and a great eye for, design and architecture. He was particularly, and appropriately, proud of the renovation he had done to his home. He was a car aficionado, a wizard at Pop-A-Shot, and was learning lots of history through book tapes while making long drives to visit loved ones. He particularly enjoyed attending Sewanee's (University of the South's) home and away basketball games, where Claire Elliott plays. Art was predeceased by his parents, Paul F. Hipwell and Jane M. Hipwell; and his sister, Mary Jane Hipwell.

Art is survived by his wife, Ronda H. Hipwell and his children and stepchildren, Andrew P. Hipwell (Cara), Whitney J. Hipwell, Katherine E. Elliott and Claire R. Elliott, his brother Joseph M. Hipwell (Rebecca Aubrey), his former wife, Deanna L. Hipwell, the mother of Drew and Whitney; her mother Mary L. Layman; nieces Elizabeth A. Sawyer, Katharine A. Sawyer, Caroline A. Sawyer, Andrea M. Hipwell and Jessica Hartlage; nephews Brian A. Bisig, Timothy P. Bisig, Joseph Johnson, Daniel Hartlage and Hunter Hartlage; and special friends, Monet L. Duke, Shawn R. Duke, Addie Childers and Austin Childers, all whom he loved, and who loved him.

Funeral is 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Cathedral of the Assumption, with burial thereafter at Cave Hill Cemetery. Visitation is 2-8 p.m. Tuesday at Ratterman Funeral Home, 3711 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY, 40207.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Kentuckiana, 1201 Story Avenue #250, Louisville, KY 40206; or the Catholic Education Foundation, 325 West Main Street, Louisville, KY, 40202.