Roos Nippard

1938 - 2018

Roos Edgar Nippard, (Eddie, Nip, or "Mr. Nip") was born in Baltimore on January 4, 1938 to Lewis Straughn Nippard and Mary Virginia White. He died July 31, 2018 at age 80. He grew up in Lansdowne, moved to Catonsville, graduating from Catonsville High in 1956. He played soccer and lacrosse on many championship teams in Baltimore City and in High School from 1954-56. In 1959, He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Helen Hesson, who passed away in December 2010. He attended University of Baltimore on a soccer and lacrosse scholarship, graduating in 1960 with a B.S. in Business management. On the U of B soccer and lacrosse teams, he was a three-time All Mason-Dixon conference selection and a two-time All-American Lacrosse selection. He was chosen to the all-Maryland team as a two-time recipient of the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Award and the Sydney Cohen Award as the outstanding Senior Goalie in the nation. He was inducted into the University of Baltimore Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004. Graduating from U of B, he was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant. He subsequently served with the Third Battalion Second marines in deployments to the Mediterranean Sea; Beaufort, South Carolina and Key West, Florida during the Cuban missile crisis. Completing active duty in 1960 he was employed with The Rouse Company in the mortgage banking division. He is a former President of the Howard County Board of Realtors and the Howard County Chapter of the Homebuilders Association of Maryland, receiving the 1974 Howard County Realtor of the Year. He retired from his career in mortgage financing after working for several banks in Maryland. Mr. Nippard continued his Marine Corps career as a reserve officer with the 4th Combat Engineer Battalion located in Baltimore. He served as a Platoon Commander, Company Commander and Battalion Commander, receiving the Navy Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. Mr. Nippard retired as a full Colonel in 1986. He was a lifelong fan, supporter and volunteer in athletics as a mentor and coach for his children and grandchildren. He attended and supported all Catonsville High School Athletics and the CHS Comets Booster Club. The press box at the Catonsville High School stadium is named in honor of Eddie and his wife, Mary Helen. In 2017, he was inducted into the Catonsville High School Distinguished Graduate Hall of Fame for athletics. He was a member and leader at Arbutus United Methodist Church serving in ministries of Finance, Staff Parish and Board of Trustees. He is survived by his daughter, The Rev. Mary Ka Kanahan, with her children Bryan and Matthew; his daughter Karen A Gallina, with her children Nicholas Gallina and Danielle Beauchamp (Phillip) and his daughter Caroline J Startt (Brian), with their children Sarah and Emma. The family will receive visitors on Saturday, August 11th, 6-8:30 pm at Arbutus UMC, 1201 Maple Avenue, Baltimore 21227. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 12th at 2pm at Arbutus United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial gifts be sent to Arbutus UMC or the Catonsville Comets Booster Club, Catonsville High, 421 Bloomsbury Ave. Catonsville, 21228.