Robert L. Lippert Jr.

Robert L. Lippert, Jr.
February 28, 1928 ~ September 29, 2011

PEBBLE BEACH - Robert L. Lippert, Jr. was born in Alameda, California on February 28, 1928 and passed away peacefully at his home on September 29, 2011. He was 83 years old and lived life to the fullest. Bob had four different successful occupations: motion picture film editor, film producer, hotel restauranteur, and cinema exhibitor.
Bob's love of travel and adventure started very early as his family hosted South Pacific sailing captains and aircraft pioneers like Donald Douglas, William Piper and Wiley Post. At the age of 15, Bob ran away to join the Canadian Navy during World War II. He was caught and returned to Richmond, California, where his father immediately enrolled him into San Rafael Military Academy, graduating four years later as Cadet Colonel, Battalion Commander. He attended St. Mary's College, Moraga, California.
Bob took up flying and received his pilot's license in 1945, working as a line boy at Sherman Field to pay for his flying time and ground school. To earn extra money he worked as a theatre manager and was good enough to be offered the job of opening the largest drive-in theater at that time, "The El Rancho" in San Francisco.
In 1949, Bob was selected to be Margaret Truman's escort at her father's Inaugural Ball.
He was offered a position in production of full length movies in 1950. As an assistant film editor, he worked with Oscar winning Elmo Williams on films: "The Steel Helmet", "Little Big Horn", "Hellgate", and the Academy Award winning "High Noon".
While living in the city of La Habra, Bob was very active in the La Habra Rotary Club, Elks, and Boys Club. He ran for and was elected to a four-year term as city councilman.
Returning to Palm Springs in the middle of 1967, he purchased an old restaurant building with a large facility located on South Palm Canyon Drive. It took one year to remove the old structure and build the new "Bob Lippert's Steak House". It quickly became a success. Steve McQueen, William Holden, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, and many stars from film and television would meet there.
Bob is survived by his wife of 25 years, Hong Sook; his son, Robert L. Lippert III; his daughter, Stacy Lytle; and his grand-daughter, Amanda Lytle.
Services will be held on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at Mission Mortuary, 450 Camino El Estero, Monterey from 11:00am to 12:00pm. A reception will follow.