Eric John Kipping (age 92) died peacefully on October 24, 2017 surrounded by his family. He was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia on March 16, 1925, the second son of the late John Henry and Alfreda (King) Kipping. Early in World War II he enlisted while underage with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, serving in Labrador, England and Holland. After the war he remained active in the Naval Reserve. He graduated from Acadia University with the degrees of Bachelor of Arts (1951) and Bachelor of Education (1952) and served as the Life President of the Acadia Class of 1951 until their 65th reunion in 2016. In 1951 he married Isabel Christine (Girlie) Nicholson. Eric’s professional career covered a dynamic range of locations and positions including: teaching in N.S. and P.E.I., the National Parks Service in Ottawa, Jasper and Banff, Superintendent of Prince Edward Island National Park in 1958. In 1962, he left the Parks Service to continue raising his growing family on The Island, co-founded Square K Construction Company and later managed the Island Development Company. In 1967 he joined the New Brunswick Telephone Company in Saint John, where he worked for twenty-one years, retiring as assistant Vice-President in 1988. Eric was strongly motivated to public service. He was elected to two terms on Saint John Common Council, followed by two terms (1978-87) as a provincial MLA for Saint John North and Minister of the Environment. To the end of his life he was keenly interest in politics, maintaining stoutly that every thoughtful citizen should be prepared to serve and at least know enough to vote, “because too many good people have died protecting our right to vote, not to mention the fact that politics affects everything we do.” Eric was an active and dedicated volunteer, involved in the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, the PEI Federation of Home and School and Parent-Teacher Associations, the Stanhope Historical Society, the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, the Saint John Board of Trade, the NB/PEI Division of the Canadian Corp of Commissionaires, the Royal Canadian Legion, the National Citizens Coalition of Canada and a life-long member of the United Church of Canada. In 2008, his extensive involvement in and leadership of the Alzheimer Society of PEI was recognized with the Danny Murphy Leadership Award for his services to Islanders. Following a debilitating stroke, Eric moved to the Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building in Halifax (2012) took part in many activities including the Legion, VMB Veterans Council as well as the Halifax Region Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee. Predeceased by his first wife of 56 years, Isabel “Girlie” (Nicholson), R.N. of Baddeck, N.S.; son Christopher William (1957-1994); and brother Robert and sister-in-law Tamar. Survived by his second wife and longtime friend Dorothy (Murray) Campbell and stepdaughter Lynn Roberts, Bridgewater, N.S.; daughter Patricia, Halifax; sons John (Susan Montague), Fredericton; Carl (Beverly), Long Reach, N.B. and Jonathan (Vita), Saint John; He was very proud of his grandchildren: Tara Perkins (Patrick Murray), Vancouver B.C.; Will Perkins (Dafydd Davies), Halifax; John Raymond Kipping (Cassandra Folkins), Fredericton; Alexander Kipping (Lauren), Long Reach N.B. and Christina Kipping, Saint John, NB and delighted by four great-grandchildren. He will be missed by brothers Tom (Irene), Oshawa, Ontario; Fred (Jessie) Riverview, N.B.; and David (Donna) Prince George, B.C.; special family friends, Katie(Markides), David and Adam Kassner, Stratford, P.E.I.; and many friends – old and new, in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins in the Kipping and Nicholson extended families. The family would like to thank the staff, volunteers and residents of V4Westwood for their compassionate care and fellowship during his five-year stay at Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building, Halifax and their extraordinary kindness during the last twelve days of his life. A memorial service will be held in Halifax at 2 p.m. on Thursday, November 9 at St. Andrew’s United Church, 6036 Coburg Road. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Camp Hill Veteran’s Memorial Garden (Halifax), Alzheimer Society of PEI, Learning Disabilities Association of NB or a charity of your choice.

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