Richard E. Ripple

Ripple, Richard E., Dr. ITHACA. Dr. Richard E. Ripple, Professor Emeritus Cornell University, age 79, of Ithaca, New York, passed Thursday, September 16, 2010, at his home. Dr. Ripple is the son of the late Edward and Frances Ripple. Dr. Ripple graduated and salutatorian of his class at Pulaski High School in Milwaukee. He attended the UW - Milwaukee (formerly Milwaukee State Teachers College) where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, and was a member of Phi Sigma Epsilon Fraternity and the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society. After college, he started his career as a sixth grade teacher at the Dover School in Milwaukee and was soon drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War Conflict. After completing his tour of duty, as a result of the GI bill, he returned to the UW - Madison, where he received his Masters of Science and Doctorate Degrees in Educational Psychology. During these years while earning his PhD, he simultaneously supported his young family by teaching sixth grade at the Lincoln School in Madison and by playing the saxophone and clarinet in his cousin's band at weekend gigs in Milwaukee. Prior to receiving his doctorate he had concluded 9 years of experience in teaching, administration and research at all levels in public school and military settings. He was also a dues paying member of the Milwaukee Musicians Union. Dr. Ripple joined Cornell University in 1961 as a professor in the Department of Education, where he taught Educational Psychology. He served as Chair of the Department for six of his forty plus years in the department. His major professional interest was in teaching and research specifically in the areas of human learning, adult development, improvement of instruction in higher education, the education of gifted and talented students, creative thinking and problem solving, the psychological bases of curriculum, and life-span human development. During his Cornell career, Dr. Ripple was a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the University of Exeter in England (1967-68). He was also a visiting professor/scholar at numerous universities including: the University of Hawaii, Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, the University of Southern California, the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas at Arlington, Lingnan College in the New Territories, China, City University in Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong, where he was appointed chair of the Psychology Department (1982). Dr. Ripple was a frequently published author in educational and psychology journals. He wrote several books on educational psychology and human development. His most noted works include his books "Piaget Rediscovered" and "Handbook of Educational Psychology." After retirement, Dr. Ripple continued to serve the Cornell community as Faculty-in- Residence at Mews Hall for another six years and at his passing was still serving as Faculty Fellow at Mews Hall. In total, Dr. Richard Ripple joyfully served Cornell University for a total of 49 years, believing in its educational mission and its special intellectual community of students and scholars. He will always be remembered not only for his love of Cornell and the Cornell community but for his love of his family. Richard/Dad/ Papa will be remembered by his family for being cool, being the first one to get a Nook, Scissors 101, globetrotting, his inspiring love of life, learning and adventure and dominating in Scrabble. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Jessie Ripple; a daughter, Lynne (Bradford) Goldsmith; two grandchildren, Christine Peterson and Michael Peterson; three nephews, Paul, David, and James Ripple (and their families); and sister-in-law, Dr. Leonore (Lloyd) Dickmann. He is preceded by his brother, Robert Ripple and his parents. Funeral Services will be on Thurs., Sept. 23, at 5 PM, at the Herson Funeral Home, 110 S. Geneva St., Ithaca, NY. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Ithaca.