Mary Ann Lippitt

LIPPITT, MARY ANN, former aviator and owner of Lippitt Aviation, who devoted her life to many causes, died on Sunday, June 18, 2006 in Providence at age 87. Born on June 29, 1918 at Pride's Crossing, Massachusetts, she died at home where she had lived with her late brother, Frederick Lippitt, for over 50 years.

Miss Lippitt was a descendant of an old Rhode Island family that was influential in Rhode Island business and politics. She was the daughter of United States Senator Henry F. Lippitt, 1911-1917, and Lucy Hayes Herron Lippitt. She was the granddaughter of Governor Henry Lippitt and the niece of Governor Charles Warren Lippitt. First Lady Nellie Herron Taft was her aunt. She was a cousin of the late Senator John Chafee and current Senator Lincoln Chafee. Miss Lippitt had five half brothers and sisters on her father's side and two half brothers on her mother's side. She is survived by many close and loving relatives.

Miss Lippitt attended the Gordon School and graduated from the Foxcroft School in 1936. As a teenager she enrolled in the first Gray Ladies training class and the first nurses aide class for the Rhode Island Red Cross. She took special Red Cross training at Ft. Devens during World War II for work with psychiatric patients. In 1944, she learned to fly during a trip to Hot Springs, Virginia and in 1946 formed Lippitt Aviation at Hillsgrove Airport, now T. F. Greene Airport. During the 26 years she owned the company, Miss Lippitt taught flying and operated a charter flight service with a fleet of up to four planes. The GI Bill financed the tuition of many of her early students. A Providence Journal article from 1946 on Miss Lippitt's new business reported that 'her personality must have been designed to win the friendship and confidence of people who want to fly.'

After selling her company Miss Lippitt devoted herself to charitable and civic causes, including serving as Chairman of the Board of the Greater Rhode Island Chapter, Providence Region, of the Red Cross, President of the Boards of Bannister House and the Women's Center, and Board Member of the Providence Public Library, Gordon School, John Hope Settlement House, the Animal Rescue League, Preserve Rhode Island and Community Prep. Brown University recognized her services to the community by awarding her the President's Medal in 2004.

Miss Lippitt made significant donations to many local charities including the Providence Public Library, which has named the exhibition hall at the Central Branch in her honor; Brown University where she funded professorships in the Medical School; and Butler Hospital, where she and her brother made a leadership gift to fund the new building, named in the Lippitts' honor, which houses the Senior Center for the treatment of Alzheimers and other acute psychiatric illnesses.

The funeral service will be held at the First Unitarian Church at the corner of Benefit and Benevolent Streets at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, June 26, 2006. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the John Hope Settlement House, 7 Thomas P. Whitten Way, Providence, Rhode Island 02903.