Fred J. Lipps Jr.

Fred J. Lipps, Jr., a former bank executive, veteran homebuilder, and longtime community activist, passed away Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at the age of 88 following an extended illness. A native of New Orleans, Mr. Lipps built homes in Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Tammany parishes for over 30 years before retiring in 1995. During this same period and beyond, he also was a volunteer fundraiser for various non-profit organizations including United Way and the Archbishop's Community Appeal, which supports Catholic Charities' programs helping needy individuals and families in the Greater New Orleans Area. In 1996, he received both an East Jefferson General Hospital Auxiliary Great Gentleman Award and a St. Elizabeth's Guild Activist Award for his community service. He will receive the Guild's Hall of Fame Award posthumously for his continuous service in March 2022. Mr. Lipps, a 1951 graduate of Jesuit High School, served with the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division and then with the 1st Military Police Company, 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One), in Germany. He attended Loyola University under the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Kappa (SAK) social fraternity and was a board member of the SAK Alumni Association. Mr. Lipps' first full-time job in the early 1960s was organizing and administering Mr. BOL, the Bank of Louisiana's credit card service, a forerunner of today's mega bank credit cards. He served as assistant vice-president of development at National American Bank, as assistant director of Loyola's office of development and as a representative with the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana before establishing his homebuilding company. A founding parishioner of St. Angela Merici Catholic Church in Metairie, Mr. Lipps was devoted to his family and delighted in seeing his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow and succeed in life. Mr. Lipps is survived by his wife of 59 years, Muriel "Kit" Harger Lipps; daughters Allison Kocsis (Mike) and Dana Schneider (Keith); grandchildren, Stefan Karasoulis (Jenn), Chelsey Karasoulis, Harry Kieffer (Morgan), Andrew Kocsis (Caroline), Jeremy Kocsis, Keith M. Schneider II, and Ashley Schneider; and great-grandchildren, Quinn Eleni and Kit John Mihail Karasoulis. Also survived by his sister, Joan Lipps and niece, Valerie Dirks Tierney (Lee) of Clarksville, TN. He was predeceased by his parents Fred J. Lipps and Audrey Dykeman Lipps Thompson, and by his nephew Mario "Chip" Scramuzza, Jr. Services will be held on Friday, January 7, 2022 at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd New Orleans, LA 70124. Visitation will begin at 10:00am followed by a Requiem Mass officiated by the Rev. Clayton J. "Beau" Charbonnet III at 12:00pm. The family gives special thanks to Traditions Health hospice staff, especially to nurse Cindy Bourgeois for their kindness and care. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Jesuit High School Alumni Giving Drive, 4133 Banks St., New Orleans LA, 70118. The family invites you to share fond memories and condolences online at www.lakelawnmetairie.com.