Michael D. Tripp

About

Michigan State University St. Cloud State University

Michael Tripp Obituary

Michael D. Tripp, 62

St. Cloud

January 30, 1950 - June 1, 2012

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Thursday, June 7 in Atwood Memorial Center (Cascade room) at St. Cloud State University, between 3 and 5 p.m. to honor the life of Dr. Michael Tripp who passed away at his home.

Dr. Michael Donald Tripp was born January 30, 1950 in Inkster, Michigan to the late Luke Sr. and Dorothy Tripp. He was the seventh of twelve children. In 1954 the family moved to Detroit where he grew up.

Dr. Michael Tripp joined the St. Cloud State University faculty in Fall of 1992 in the Department of Human Relations and Multicultural Education as an Associate Professor. In 2011, Dr. Tripp was awarded full Professorship for his long service to the College of Education and the University. He made significant contributions to the College of Education when he served as the Co-Chair of the department in the Fall of 2010.

Education and service to the community were high priorities in the Tripp household and sacrifices were made to enable Michael to attend and graduate from St. Catherine High School in 1967 in Detroit. Through his academic achievements he earned scholarships to attend Michigan State University where he received a B.A. degree in 1970. He then attended the University of California, Berkeley, and received his M.S.W. in 1972, and his Ph.D. in 1981.

Dr. Tripp was an avid reader and consumer of social and political humor. He could see the folly of the establishment as it attempted to dupe the public with smoke and mirrors. Dr. Tripp was a student activist during the turbulent 1960s and continued his activism in St. Cloud and was a leader in the community. His professional, social and civic accomplishments were numerous and included active roles in organizations committed to the struggle for social justice. Dr. Tripp enjoyed participating in family events. He was friendly and sociable but in some ways he was a private person.

Dr. Michael Tripp's brothers and sisters are Mary Monroe, Betty Houston, Dr. Luke Tripp, Jr., Dr. Lucius Tripp, Dr. James Tripp, Richard Tripp, Bridget Hudson, Judy Smith, Jackie Tripp, Herbert Tripp and Fred Tripp. Michael is preceded in death by his parents, Luke Sr. and Dorothy Tripp and brothers Lucius and Jackie. Survivors include his nine brothers and sisters, and their spouses and partners and their children and grandchildren.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the SCSU Foundation: We Are One Scholarship Fund at www.stcloudstate.edu/foundation/donations and/or the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum at www.napawf.org. The We Are One Scholarship fund supports one student per year with financial need, academic excellence and a demonstrated commitment to being an active anti-racist. The National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) is a movement to advance social justice and human rights for Asian American and Pacific Islander women and girls.

Please note the correct web address for donations to SCSU is www.stcloudstate.edu/foundation/donations. The correction has been made in the paragraph above.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by St. Cloud Times from Jun. 5 to Jun. 6, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Tripp

6 Entries

June 6, 2012

I got the chance to work with Mr. Tripp on campus, wonderful person!

Tiffany Morgan

June 6, 2012

I had the pleasure of taking a class from Dr. Tripp in 2009. He was a memorable and passionate professor on the topic of race relations, and he helped me look at the world in a new light. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Margaretta Venson

June 6, 2012

Dr. Michael Tripp was my buddy, my good friend, and I loved him. He will be truly missed by so many here in Detroit. We talked often about everything from local and national politics, our respective work places, our families, and personal stuff. He was someone that I could bear my soul to and he did likewise. He called recently to wish me a Happy Mother's Day and expressed that he was looking forward to being here in Detroit at the end of May to visit his buddies Rodney and Craig, his family and me. I thought it very strange that I had not heard back from him to confirm his visit. My prayers and thoughts are with his family and friends. Michael you are free and I know you are at peace and resting well.

Love Forever,
Margaretta Venson

Serafina Scholl

June 5, 2012

i had the great pleasure of sitting next to professor tripp on an amtrak train from milwaukee to St. Cloud. He had gotten on in Detroit. I knew who he was but had never had him as a teacher. i told him "I know you are professor michael tripp" I perceded to share my life story with him, how i was in the social responsibility program, probably making myself look a real weirdo because I was in awe...i had had luke tripp has a professor ..I spent the train ride to st. cloud listening to him make fun of his brother:) and about the world in general. Smart Smart Smart wonderful man.

June 5, 2012

I had the pleasure of having Mr. Tripp for my professor in Spring 2012. He was a special person to be around. He was always so passionate in everything he did, he was one of my favorite professors and I learned alot from him. Prays go out to his family
- St. Cloud State Student

Semya Hakim

June 5, 2012

Michael was a great friend, brother, colleague, activist & teacher. His students respected him for his intellect and for his passion for learning. Michael did everything with a smile and will be missed by all who knew him.

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