Donald R. Slipp

  Notater:

Orbit:
Iin Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on Mar. 2, 2014

PORTLAND -- Donald R. Slipp, 89, of Portland died peacefully on Feb. 27, 2014 at Maine Medical Center's Gibson Pavilion, surrounded by family and friends after a brief illness with leukemia. Don was born in Portland on August 20, 1924, the son of Harold and Erna Slipp. He grew up on Munjoy Hill, and was married to his beloved wife Jane Barnes Slipp for 67 years prior to her death this past August. Don was a graduate of Portland High School where he was an all 'A' student. He took his educational success into the business world as a salesman for the National Cash Register (NCR) Company where he quickly grew into the role of local Office Manager and then Branch Manager for the state of Maine. He was offered a position as Assistant to the President of the NCR Corporation at their Dayton, Ohio corporate offices, but because of his close ties to the community, his love of Maine's 'way of life', and wanting to raise his family locally, he turned down the position. Instead, he continued to work locally at NCR and turned his sights towards politics and improving the quality of life in the City of Portland that he so dearly loved. A fiscal conservative wanting to hold down local taxes, Don ran for city council and won on his first attempt. He was a three-term city councilor serving from 1964 through 1976. In 1969, he became the first 'Mayor' since Carroll Chaplin (1923) when the name change from City Chairman (Chairman of the City Council) to Mayor was instituted, and served in that capacity through 1970. As a councilor and Mayor, he worked closely with then City Manager John Menario and other like-minded city councilors in overseeing significant urban renewal of Portland's downtown neighborhoods. They instituted the Model Cities Program after the exodus of several large retailers to the newly established South Portland Maine Mall in 1970. Don was also heavily involved in property tax reform due to the State of Maine's decision to pass along significant state expenses to municipalities like Portland. In 1976, he was instrumental in inaugurating Ferry service with C. N Marine Ferry Service between Portland and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia with the introduction of the 'Scotia Prince'. Donald R. Slipp Don was a jack-of-all-trades in his personal life. He continually made home improvements and converted the basement into a family room. He enjoyed woodworking projects and made bookcases, cabinets, basketball backboards, Ping-Pong tables, and complex HO train sets. He was adept at landscaping and took pride in maintaining his yard and swimming pool. He was one of the original founders of Little League 9 (North Deering) and coached for many years, taking his All Star team to the State Finals in 1965. He was awarded the coveted Kenneth M. Sills award for his long time dedication to Little League Baseball. He was also heavily involved with the Pine Tree Council of Boy Scouts of America and represented the council as Akela- the Indian figurehead performing the Indian Scouting ceremony of transitioning Webelos Scouts into full fledged members of the Boy Scout Troop. Don was an avid bowler with a neighborhood bowling group, a superlative ice and roller skater, skier, fly fisherman, and golfer. After retiring from Maine Savings Bank in 1989, he volunteered for the Maine Handicapped Skiing Program at Sunday River for several years. Don was most happy on the golf course playing with his golfing buddies, sons, and grandsons, and continued to play right up to his death. His greatest happiness was derived when surrounded by his family, friends, and neighbors. Don is survived by his brother Robert and his wife Joanne; son Dana, another son Gary and his wife Kim; and his four grandchildren, Jarad, Justin, Kristin, and Matthew. With respect to Don's wishes, there will be a memorial service at North Deering Congregational Church, 1364 Washington Avenue (Portland) on Wednesday March 5th at 12:00 noon followed by a Celebration of Life luncheon at the Italian Heritage Center, 40 Westland Avenue, Portland directly after the service. The family would like to express a special thank you to all of his wonderful friends and neighbors, and to the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Gibson Pavilion. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Don's memory to: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 1311 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 310 White Plains, NY 10605 Or to the charity of your own choosing. -

Donald blev gift med Jane E. Barnes den 1 Jun. 1946 i Portland, Cumberland, Maine, USA. (Jane E. Barnes blev født den 28 Mar. 1925 i Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, døde den 11 Aug. 2013 i Portland, Cumberland, Maine, USA og blev begravet i Brooklawn Memorial Park.)