John K.H. Yip

John K.H. Yip

With sadness we announce the passing of John K.H. Yip at the age of 81, on 11/27/2025.

He was a devoted and generous father, avid pickleball player, lifelong musician and teacher, first generation Chinese immigrant, and proud veteran who touched many lives.

In 1944 John became the firstborn son of Chee Shim (Ho) and Tsing Tsuen Yip. The family fled to Bangkok shortly after to escape the war. At 18 John preceded his parents and two younger brothers, Kamul and Karoon in emigrating to the US. He attended Menaul high school in Albuquerque, where he met and married Barbara Barrett, with whom he had two daughters.

John served two years active duty in Vietnam with the US Army. The Yip family then settled in Albuquerque, where he completed his Masters in Choral conducting at UNM. John's career included teaching music to high school and adult choirs, and finally retiring from Sandia Labs.

John and Barbara shared a love of travel and the outdoors, taking the family on regular trips, hiking, playing tennis, and camping. John remained healthy and engaged well into his later years, singing tenor in De Profundis, a local men' s choral ensemble, and staying physically active with regular cycling, running, and pickleball. He was a legendary eater and lifelong motorcycle enthusiast. The diverse group of friends and family he leaves knew and respected him as an intelligent, humble, kind man. We honor his memory and he will be missed.

He is survived by his two daughters, Alicia and Beth Yip; his former-spouse Barbara Vick; brother and sister-in-law, Kamul and Punnee Yip; and nephew and niece-in-law, Paul and Danielle Yip.

Memorial service planned for February 2026, exact date TBD; see https://tinyurl.com/whehkbyh for updated info.