Albert (Bert) Lloyd Stipe

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Albert Lloyd Stipe on July 28 at Christus St. Vincent Regional Hospital after bravely battling various forms of cancer for 16 years.

Born in Joplin, MO, Bert grew up in Baxter Springs, KS, and Tulsa, OK, the third of four sons of Jepthae Carey (JC) Stipe and Dorothy Woodman. He was the last of the brothers to pass away.

Bert was proud of his engineering and applied physics degree from Harvard University and was an active member of the Harvard Club wherever he lived. He particularly enjoyed interviewing students for the university and was always delighted when of the students he interviewed was admitted to Harvard.

After college, Bert went to work for Ingersoll Rand. When the company moved him to Kansas City, MO, he was in a familiar place. His grandfather, Dr. William Stipe, lived in Kansas City and Bert moved into his grandfather’s house. He became a sales engineer for various fire pump companies. He and Mary Jo Javorek married on November 26, 1976.

The couple eventually moved to Long Island, NY, after Bert was invited to become a partner in Quimby Equipment Company in 1987. By that time, Bert and Mary Jo had two children, Mary Elizabeth Stipe and William Zachary Stipe. The family lived in Northport, on the north shore of Long Island, for 28 years. Bert kept his promise to retire in 2012. By this time, their son was living in Los Angeles, CA, and their daughter moved to Santa Fe with them to pursue her teaching career.

Bert was a history buff who could recite the U.S. presidents in order and had a particular interest in the Founding Fathers, the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Whenever the couple traveled, they sought out battlefields to visit from Gettysburg to Cow Pens, Saratoga to Antietam. An avid reader, he usually chose books about American history, but also enjoyed a good mystery. He was a doting pet parent to the many cats who shared the family’s home over the years.

He will be sorely missed by his wife of almost 49 years, his children, family and friends. Bert was smart, funny, generous and kind. He could start a conversation with anyone, was curious and truly interested in others.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Bert’s name to Felines and Friends, the Santa Fe Animal Shelter or Espanola Valley Animal Shelter.