Edith Ridley Lippincott

Edith Ridley Lippincott of Easton, MD died on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at William Hill Manor, Easton. She was 90. Born May 31, 1917 in Riverton, NJ, she was the daughter of the late George L. and Christine Washington Ridley. After attending grammar school in Riverton, and high school in Moorestown NJ, she graduated from Palmyra High School in Palmyra, NJ. She then attended Wellesley University in Massachusetts. Her husband, Robert L. Lippincott, whom she married April 11, 1942, died April 13, 1998. He was the 1950 Star Class World Champion Sailor. She was a member of the Riverton Yacht Club and the Riverton Porch Club, Riverton, NJ; and Church of The Holy Trinity, and the Tred Avon Yacht Club, Oxford, MD., and Vice President of Lippincott Marine located in Grasonville, MD. Mrs. Lippincott is survived by four sons, Richard Lippincott, and his wife “Pucky” of Oxford, MD, Lt. Col Robert Louis Lippincott, Jr. (U.S.A.F. Ret.) and his wife Joann of Poquoson, VA, William R. Lippincott, and his wife Fay Jean of Easton, MD, and John H. Lippincott, and his wife Anne of Ennis, Montana; a sister, Christine Ridley of Easton; seven grandchildren, Stacey Seymour, Jennifer Lippincott, Ryan Lippincott, Bobby Lippincott, Mary Anne Lippincott, Johnny Lippincott, and Ashley Lippincott; and two great-grandchildren, Robbie Seymour and Alex Seymour. She was predeceased by a son, James A. Lippincott, who died June 18, 2000 and a sister, Elizabeth Ridley, who died February 23, 2004. During her life she traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe to many major sailing championship regattas with her husband and various other Maryland sailors and their wives throughout the 1940’s, 50’s & 60’s. She raced Penguins in the 1950’s helping teach her sons how to be better racers. From 1954 until the 1960’s she was the “1st mate” aboard the family yacht “Zeearend” a 55’ Sparkman Stevens designed Yawl that held the Annapolis-Oxford race course record from the late 1950’s until broken by Running Tide in the late 1960’s. “Zeearend” became host boat to many sailors and their families throughout the bay as it traveled from regatta to regatta throughout the summers. Edith was a proud hostess aboard “Zeearend” serving meals to as many as 50 sailors between races; towing as many as 38 boats at a time in from the race courses, and presiding over many bridge and gin rummy card games being played on “Zeearend’s” decks by the various wives and girlfriends of the sailors during the races at Bay regattas. One steadfast guest over the years was the Baltimore Sun Paper’s Sailing reporter who delighted in joining “Zeearend’s” crew for the regattas and helping the ladies with their card games. Edith gave tremendous support to her sons and their friends over the years whether in sailing, education and/or other sports activities. A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 9 at 11:00am at Holy Trinity Church in Oxford. Burial will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula, 100 West 10th St., Suite 501, Wilmington, DE 19801, The Salvation Army, PO Box 91, Cambridge, MD 21613, or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 11403 Cronhill Drive, Suite E, Owings Mills, MD 21117. Arrangements are by Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton, MD.