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Posts Tagged ‘Joe Lippo’

Fair winds and following seas, Joe Lippo

Posted in In memory, tagged , , , , on February 29, 2024| 1 Comment »

Joe Lippo

He was an American hero and a rascal, all in one.

Joe Lippo, who we lost last week, had a sterling career with the United States Navy.

He also propped up the back wall at countless Coupeville games with me, at home and on the road, delivering a patented mix of wisdom, sarcasm, and guff about the fact I was still wearing shorts year round at my age.

“It’s not that I care about whether you’re cold or not, Svien … I just don’t wanna spend the next two hours and change staring at your knobby knees.”

As Wolf Nation mourns the loss of one its most unique members, a remembrance from his family:

 

Joseph Lloyd Wesley Lippo, born July 8, 1969, in Wyandotte, Michigan to Joseph and Doris Lippo, passed away February 21, 2024.

Joe married Connie Sue Hayes on November 22, 1997.

He was a very proud veteran. He served 20 years in the Navy from 1987 when he graduated from Mount Carmel High School until his retirement in 2007.

He earned his Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Intelligence Studies from American Military University.

During his career in the Navy, Joe was involved in 800 missions in seven foreign wars.

Joe had several posts in various places including Moffet Field in California, Kadena Naval Air Station in Okinawa, Japan (where his twins Joey and Skyylynn were born) and Whidbey Island, Washington, where he permanently settled.

During his career he was awarded the Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, among others.

Joe’s diverse interests included rowing, hockey (both playing and cheering for his favorite Red Wings team), motorcycle rides, and participating in the Navy shooting team where he garnered numerous awards.

Joe was very active in his local community.

He proudly and actively supported his children’s endeavors, attending their tennis, baseball, hockey, basketball, and dance events.

Joe is survived by his wife, Connie; children Joey Lippo, Skyylynn Lippo, Daryl Skvarla, Corrin Skvarla; grandchildren Jonathan, Addilyn, Aiden, Ariya, Paisley, CarliRae; parents Doris Lippo, Joseph and Sue Lippo; siblings Michael (Jennifer) Lippo, Christopher (Kate) Lippo, Nathan (Laura) Lippo, Emilie (Shawn) Roper; aunts, uncles, cousins, military family, and too many friends to count.

He was preceded in death by his nephew Joshua.

Joe will be laid to rest at the Great Lakes National cemetery in Michigan at a date to be determined. In the meantime, please visit his memorial wall at:

 

https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/JOSEPHLWLIPPO/a5e4e4

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Wolf Nation loses a real one

Posted in In memory, tagged , , , , on February 22, 2024| 1 Comment »

Joe and Connie Lippo with the Wonder Twins, Skyy and Joey.

Wolf Nation took a major hit Wednesday with the sudden passing of Joe Lippo.

The father of Coupeville High School grads Skyy and Joey, he and wife Connie could be found at nearly every game or activity their children participated in during their time as Wolves.

Tennis, baseball, basketball, and dance — if his offspring was burning up the court or stage, Joe was front and center for it.

And that carried over to both home and road, as I climbed into a car and bounced down the backroads of America with him more than once as we chased (or passed) Wolf busses.

He was fervent in his support of both his own kids, and their classmates as well, and not shy about showing it.

Joe, a Navy man through and through and damn proud of it, was also a HUGE hockey fan, and would gladly tell you why the Detroit Red Wings ruled and anyone else who picked up a stick drooled.

Michigan football and crew of any kind — he was a high school rower of some renown — were also high on his list of approved topics for discussion.

When Coupeville sisters Sophie and Lucy Sandahl began their run with the Seattle Pacific University crew team, you would have thought Joe was directly related to them, as he gushed non-stop about their adventures.

While also gently guiding me when I used incorrect terms for the sport or failed to comprehend the glory and magnificence of oars hitting the water in unison with the first rays of sunshine.

Over the years, Joe was a fountain of opinions, a big-time supporter of my blogging efforts, and an excellent way to tell if my words were hitting right.

Even after his kids graduated and moved on to college, he and Connie popped into games on a semi-regular basis.

He helped me hold up the back wall of the gym at countless events, and he will be missed.

Next time I’m at a game, I will hear Joe’s words, usually delivered while giving me some side-eye.

“Why are you scribbling on a note pad, Svien? Get with the modern age and get a tablet!

“Now eat your hot dog … I didn’t buy it for you so it could sit there and get cold.

“And talking about cold, when are you going to start writing about hockey like a real writer????”

Dude was one of a kind.

“Are you still wearing shorts, Svien? Adults wear jeans.”

 

To help the family:

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/mo8z13

 

Veterans Legacy Memorial:

https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/JOSEPHLLOYDLIPPO/a5e4e4?fbclid=IwAR3YsthoUNPqh4_x7sT8qFSeZqACAO_QqFo73Mw7hrBEZCKA51CUuCj-vEI

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Arm or bat, McGranahan will destroy you!!

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , on April 24, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Katrina

Katrina McGranahan (left) and Hope Lodell.

McG

McGranahan circles the bases after her big blast. (Justine McGranahan photo)

Written by Joe Lippo.

Recently, Ben Etzell threw a very rare no-hitter for Coupeville High School.

This gave all the Wolf players a mental boost, and made Ben “King of the Hill” (mound?).

Who knew he would have company all the way up there so soon?

According to her parents, CMS 8th grader Katrina McGranahan has been in a bit of a slump lately.

I don’t know exactly what that entails (her batting average probably dropped below .900 or something like that), but in her latest game with the CWLL Juniors Venom, she broke that slump.

Actually, she shattered it.

Tabbed as the starting pitcher for the 3-0 Venom, she immediately started sitting Oak Harbor Mariner batters down while lowering the average temperature at the ball park by fanning all but one batter in the first three innings.

The fourth inning got slightly out of control with a few walks and some passed balls that allowed the Mariners to score three. But that was it.

No hits.

Of the 15 outs, 11 were by strikeout.

The four Oak Harbor batters that were lucky enough make contact with the ball were discouraged to learn that McGranahan is not the only girl on the Venom that can play ball.

First baseman Mikayla El-frank snared a foul ball and then a ball that came right up the first base line for outs.

Second baseman Bella Northup scooped a roller that came her way for the force at first, and McGranahan helped her own cause by grabbing a ball that came straight back to her, also for the out at first.

Venom batters were hot from the first pitch, with Veronica Crownover (RBI) and Hope Lodell (single, RBI) making solid contact and driving in runs.

Lauren Rose (single, double) drove in four RBI, second only to McGranahan’s six.

Tamika Nastali (single), Heather Nastali (single), Emily Licence (single) and Sarah Wright (single, triple) contributed to the hit parade.

Outstanding base running also helped them rack up the runs.

In the bottom of the fifth, the score was 12-3 in favor of the Venom, with one run needed to end the game by 10-run rule.

McGranahan came to the plate with the bases loaded.

The Oak Harbor pitchers’ offering was hit to deep center, taking two hops and hitting the fence. It was enough for McGranahan to circle the bases, sealing her complete game no-hitter, winning the game 16-3 and getting the grand slam to boot.

“We are playing good softball and more importantly we are playing as a team,” said Venom coach Kevin McGranahan. “Coach Ron Wright and I have been teaching the team concept for the last four years and the girls have grasped it and are now playing as one.

“Katrina had a great game but those games are not possible without the other eight girls on the field and all the players playing as a team,” he added. “Next game I am sure it will be a different girl or girls coming through and that is the beauty of coaching, when you see the girls playing together, having fun and picking each other up.

“We expect great things out of these girls in the future. Enjoy the show!”

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Feb. 22 — when a man’s fancy turns to baseball!!

Posted in Baseball, Little League, tagged , , , , on February 22, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Central Whidbey Little League sluggers wielded big bats last season. (Joe Lippo photos)

   Central Whidbey Little League sluggers wielded big bats last season. (Joe Lippo photos)

Spring approaches.

Spring approaches.

Are you ready to swing into action?

Are you ready to swing into action?

Joe Lippo is a little excited.

Taking a break from possibly agonizing over the loss to injury of Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg (he’s a huge hockey and Red Wings fan), Lippo is already mentally planning for the upcoming youth baseball seasons.

He recently fired off this note and the photos above.

Wanna know whats going to start soon? Baseball.

Wanna know something else?

8th graders are showing up at the high school open gym in growing numbers.

Seen at this morning’s practice were Joey Lippo, Nick Etzell, and rumor has it that Julian Welling has been making appearances.

If all goes right, Coupeville Juniors should have a pretty solid team this year, provided they can grab some of the younger 9th graders from the mix.

Add some Kyle Rockwell, a dash of Jake Pease, a couple of Ecks, and mash it all up with some Clay Reilly, and the team looks mighty fine…

No one tell him that’s it supposed to start snowing today.

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