Irene Potter Potts

"She danced through life with passion and grace, extending a loving embrace to all."

Irene "Kip" (née Potter) Potts died peacefully July 4th while surrounded by her loving family. She was 94 years old. Kippy was married to the love of her life, Steve Potts, who passed away in 2019. She is survived by her daughter Lori Potts-Dupre (David), son Stephen "Dek" Potts, Jr., daughter Stacy Potts Krogh (Paul), eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren, with one more on the way in September. She is lovingly remembered by her large extended family.

Born in Nashville, Tennessee to Charles and Lorine Potter, she grew up with her beloved parents and brother, Charlie. Kip attended Ward-Belmont School (now Harpeth Hall), an all-girls school in Nashville, Tennessee. Knowing her parents' permission for an active social life depended on her grades, Kippy maintained a straight-A average. Kip's independent streak appeared early when she decided to attend Bradford Junior College to study American history, and traveled most weekends to other schools for party weekends. However, when her adored father fell ill, she decided to return to Nashville to help her mother care for him. She then completed her degree in history at Vanderbilt University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa.

It was there that she met and fell in love with Steve Potts. They were married in 1952 at West End Methodist Church in the social event of the year in Nashville. Kip enjoyed remembering her wonderful wedding! Everyone who met Kip and Steve, through their entire 66 years together, were struck by their enduring love and respect for one another.

After their marriage Kip worked as a middle school teacher in Nashville while Steve finished law school at Vanderbilt. When asked about her varied professional career, Kip always described herself as a teacher first. Their first child, Lori, was born while Steve served in the Judge Advocate General's office at the Pentagon. They then returned to Nashville for several years where Dek and Stacy were born, and Steve worked in a Potter family business. They moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 1961, when Steve became the first associate at his brother's law firm, Shaw Pittman Potts Trowbridge and Madden. It was in the Wood Acres neighborhood in Bethesda, MD, that Kip nurtured a wide circle of friends and a robust social life. In addition to being the life of any dance party, Kippy became the perpetuator of elaborate April Fools' Day schemes.

Kip was a teacher and director of a parent cooperative nursery school in Bethesda while her children were young. She was always the class parent, the team manager, and the chaperone for field trips and beach weeks (her children's friends would always request Kip!). She loved children, really understood teenagers, and was the trusted confidante of many.

Kip was up for any adventure. She was the "cool" mom-she brought home "Meet the Beatles" before anyone else knew who they were (although Elvis remained her favorite forever!). Our home was always filled with music of all kinds, including favorites Peggy Lee, Tom Jones, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley and The Rolling Stones (she attended their first concert at RFK stadium!) and other country, classical and rock and roll musical artists. When driving the car, her rings were always tapping against the steering wheel to whatever song was on the radio.

Kip was proud to be a feminist. When asked what the greatest invention of the 20th century was, she answered "birth control." Both she and Steve were early supporters of women's rights and civil rights, leading by example in every institution with which they were involved. While Kippy strongly supported Democratic social and economic policies, she supported her husband's later career in Republican administrations. She adored participating in the Washington social and tennis scene, with cocktail parties and dinners seemingly every weekend. Kip loved people. And people loved her. She could connect with anyone and continued to make new friends, to the very end of her life.

Kip returned to school to earn a Masters in Counseling in the early seventies, and worked as an instructor in a new program at George Washington University designed to help women re-enter and advance in the workforce. She then launched a 20-year career in corporate education and training at the National Credit Union Association, including the responsibility for organizing and executing the annual conferences, attended by several thousand employees. She was very good at her job, and she enjoyed traveling and working with employees in the branch offices all across the country. At the end of her career, Kip was awarded the Chairman's Outstanding Career Achievement Award.

Kip had many roles in her life, and accomplished a great deal by any measure, but relationships always came first for her. She devoted her life to caring for her husband, children, extended family and friends. Her friend group was incredibly broad and diverse. Kip celebrated every holiday with energy and gusto. She had boxes of decorations so her house would be decked out for St. Patrick's Day, Easter, July Fourth, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Every occasion was a time for celebration, whether a birthday, an anniversary, a change of season, or a homecoming.

She was so happy to become a grandmother! Her grandchildren and their spouses describe her as "vibrant, loving, powerful, smart, bright, playful, a great dancer, devoted, steadfast, compassionate, charismatic, witty, waggish, sporty, glamorous and intellectually curious." They remember being taught good manners and kind behavior while enjoying ice cream and dancing to Kip's jukebox "The Bubbler." They remember being tucked into bed with secrets and stories and back tickles. Kip worked hard to organize extended family reunions and celebrations and amazing family trips, including river rafting, a dude ranch and various countries in Europe and Africa. Every grandchild had special trips and memories with Kip and Papa, including Ireland, France, New York, San Francisco, Alaska, the Bahamas, and multiple trips to Disney World. One of her friends once stated she hoped to come back as Kippy's grandchild! Kippy and Steve loved to travel, delving deep into the history of different locales and connecting with people in different cultures. Their travels took them to every continent except for Antarctica, and Kip loved bringing back special items from each locale.

At the age of 42, when she and Steve became members of the Chevy Chase Club, Kip decided to take a few tennis lessons. She quickly became quite proficient and developed a big friend group of fellow women players. She loved participating in the dance exercise classes and water aerobics classes. Chevy became a wonderful social center for her and Steve, where they could easily meet with friends for drinks or dinner and entertain family members. The grandchildren loved going to the pool with Kippy! And the chocolate chip cookies and ice cream were always a special treat.

After retirement, spending time during the winter months in Delray Beach, FL became more and more enjoyable. Kip made friends at several tennis clubs, and she and Steve joined the St. Andrews Club, ultimately moving into a condominium on the property. They generously hosted a constant stream of friends and family. One of the highlights in Del Ray was an open air bar near the train tracks; Kip was a huge fan of the Elvis impersonator, and was bestowed with an Elvis scarf one special night.

Kip's joie de vivre had no match; there was no such thing as "a dull moment" when Kip was involved. Everyone who knew her recognized her for the highly energetic, special, genuinely caring, compassionate, always positive person who was a joy to be around. Her family will remember her with the retelling of countless delightful stories, mixing laughter with tears, knowing she is finally reunited with her dearest love, Steve.

The family has planned a private inurnment service. A celebration of Kip's life, to which all are welcome, will be held later in the fall.