Nicholas M. "Nick" Hipskind

1940 - 2024

Nicholas M. "Nick" Hipskind passed away on Wednesday, August 7, with his wife and daughters by his side. Nick was born on April 11, 1940 in Wabash, Indiana to Katherine "June" and Howard Hipskind. He was raised in a loving home, next door to his grandparents. He attended St. Bernard Catholic School through 8th grade and was a proud 1958 graduate of Wabash High School. He maintained lifelong friendships with many of his beloved classmates. In the fall of 1958, Nick began his journey in higher education at Ball State University, where he was a member of the Cardinal football team. He obtained a BS in 1962 and a MA in 1963. He was a Speech Clinician in the Birmingham, Michigan Public Schools from June 1963-August of 1965. In 1968, he received his Doctor of Philosophy (Audiology) from Michigan State University. He married the love of his life Sandy Sundy, who he met at Ball State, and on June 27, 2024, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. His first faculty position was at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA. Although he and Sandy enjoyed the experiences of a different part of the country, they were thrilled to be closer to family when the opportunity arose to join the faculty of the department of Speech and Hearing at Indiana University. In January of 1970, Nick began his decades long relationship with IU upon his appointment as Assistant Professor of Audiology. Over the years, in addition to serving as a faculty member, he held the titles of Director of Audiology, Hearing Clinic Director, Associate Dean of the University Division and Professor Emeritus. Other IU activities that Nick was proud to be involved with included, the Distinguished Scholarship Interview Program (1978-1980), official timer/scorer for the Men's (1979-2019) and Women's (1988-2019) Little 500, Academic Advisor for Pre- registration, University Division (1981-1985), Bloomington Varsity Club Board (1995-2002), Residence Hall Faculty Fellow (1997-2005), and the Office of Student Advocates (2005-2021). Nick assisted in student-athlete recruiting and faculty sponsorship for IU football under coaches, Lee Corso, Sam Wyche and Bill Mallory. Nick and Sandy have been IU football and basketball season ticket holders since 1972 and avid supporters of all IU athletics. In 2013, he was presented the Bill Orwig Award. This award is given annually by the I-Association to a non IU alumnus who has impacted IU Athletics in positive and important ways. Following this past IU women's basketball season, Nick told his daughter that the past few years of watching the women play, both in person and on tv, were some of the most enjoyable he had experienced in all of his years of following IU sports! To know he had this joy, in what would be his final year to cheer on a Hoosier team, provides his family with an enormous amount of gratitude. Nick's contributions transcended the Bloomington community. He served as chairperson for the Indiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ISHA) and Indiana Board of Examiners in Speech Pathology and Audiology (IBESPA), and was an active member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (ASHA) program committee. He forged great relationships with his professional colleagues. Nick received many honors and awards over his career. A few include, Sagamore of the Wabash (1988), Kentucky Colonel (1993), Outstanding Teaching Award (1993), nominee for Outstanding Alumni Award in the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences, Michigan State University (1996), TERA Teaching Award in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences (1998), IU Campus Division Faculty Award (1999), and the IU Foundation President's Medallion (2005). For many years, Nick delivered meals for Meals on Wheels. His final deliveries would be this past Christmas morning, with his grandson, Zach. This is a tradition that he shared with several of his grandchildren over the years. Although he formed deep and meaningful relationships with fellow faculty and staff at IU, his passion was always the students. He loved the students. Until his death, he continued to stay in touch with a remarkable number of his former students. It is an understatement to say that the students loved him back. Over his lifetime, Nick amassed a large and diverse circle of friends. Although he claimed to be deficient in the ability to remember names, he never forgot a face and almost always remembered at least one thing about the person. Regardless if you just met Nick, knew him a few months or several years, he likely made an impression (and you probably have a story)! Nick and Sandy were co-owners of the Bloomington Driving School for many years. Certainly, there are those of you reading this that were lucky enough to have him as your Driver's Ed instructor!! He often regretted that he didn't keep a permanent record of those he taught to drive. Along with the numerous high school students, he also taught IU international students and faculty, world renowned musicians and even a legendary former IU swimming coach! Nick was a long time member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. In the early years, Nick was an active member of the Men's Club and played a number of years on the St Charles softball team. Although it sounds cliche, there was nothing more important to Nick than his beloved family. He took immense pride in being a husband, dad and "pap" and he leaves behind an incredible legacy. He was a constant source of advice, support, encouragement and love throughout their lives. Attending the athletic events of his grandchildren over the past 25 years provided him with immense joy and gratification. In his final days, it was apparent that it was this very thing that he was going to miss the most. In addition to his wife, those left with amazing memories are, daughters Heidi Dolson (Scott) and Nikki Huff (Joe) and daughter-in-law Angie Hipskind. Grandchildren, Luke, Sam and Zach Wisen and Kristen and Nick Dolson, Liam, Cole and Bo Huff and Charlize and Drew Hipskind. Others who survive are sister, Sara Montgomery, and sister-in-law Barb Winter. Nephews Barry (Shelly) Montgomery and David Montgomery, and nieces Amy (Fritz) Winter, Kim Winter (son Jackson) and Ann (Andy) Montgomery. The family takes comfort in knowing that Nick is now reunited with his son, Dr. Andy Hipskind, who passed away on September 18, 2021. Others who preceded him in death were his parents and brother-in-law, Michael Montgomery. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Michael LaGrange and nurse, Loriann Fechtman for their care over the past several years. Also, a special thank you to the care team from IU Health Hospice; Jenny, Alyssa and Angi. The family is grateful for the gentleness with which they cared for Nick these past six weeks. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, August 16 at 11:00 am at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 2222 East Third Street. Visitation will be Thursday, August 15 from 4:00-8:00 pm at Allen Funeral Home, 4155 South Old State Road 37. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following: Andrew S. Hipskind, MD Memorial Scholarship c/o the IU Foundation, PO Box 500, Bloomington, IN. 47402 St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 2222 East Third Street, Bloomington, IN. 47401 Bishop Simon Brute College Seminary, Archdiocese of Indianapolis, PO Box 1410, Indianapolis, IN. 46206-1410 Online condolences may be shared with Nick's family at www.allen cares.com