Thomas Sipe

LAWRENCE Thomas Tom Sipe, 65, Lawrence, died Tuesday, May 24, 2005, in Lawrence from complications resulting from recent health issues. Tom was born Aug. 24, 1939, in San Diego, the son of Jeanne and Clyde Sipe. He received a bachelors degree from Drury College and after active duty with the Navy, spent 20 years as a manufacturing executive in Springfield, Mo., where he was involved in many civic and political activities. He received a masters degree from The University of Kansas and served several years as the city manager of Osawatomie. Thereafter, with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and later the Kansas Hospital Association, he worked closely with rural hospitals throughout the state in developing the federal Kansas Critical Access Hospital networks and grants programs - a position in which he became a nationally-recognized specialist for rural health care regulatory and reimbursement issues and advocated on their behalf before congress and both state and federal administrative agencies. Prior to his retirement, he worked closely with the federal and state Hospital Bio-Terrorism Preparedness program. He had earlier retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of captain after 30 years of service and having held five individual commands. He was preceded in death by his mother. Survivors include a daughter, Kathryn Ruscitti and her husband, Thomas, and their daughter, in Chicago; two sons, Thomas and his wife, Linda,, and their two sons, Cypress, Calif., and John, Springfield, Mo.; a brother, Larry and his family, Cottage Grove, Minn.; his father, Clyde and his wife, Barbara; and an uncle, Paul Sipe, Fernandina, Fla. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Thomas R. Sipe may be made to the Kansas Hospital Education and Research Foundation, Kansas Hospital Association. Online condolences may be offered at www.rumsey-yost.com.