Eleanor LaMotte Trippe

Eleanor LaMotte Trippe died Monday, October 26, 2015, at her home in Easton. Mrs. Trippe was 93 years old. Born on January 21, 1922 in Baltimore, MD, Eleanor Bardeen LaMotte was the only daughter of the late Frank Linton and Florence Bardeen LaMotte. Named for her aunt, Eleanor Bardeen, who was affectionately known as “Nell,” Mrs. LaMotte called her daughter “Nancy,” hoping to avoid her child’s having to endure the nickname among family of “Little Nells.” She had three brothers. In the mid-1920s, her father’s business took the family to Eureka, MT, for several years. Located in the upper northwest portion of Montana, just across the border from Canada, Eureka was a remote outpost. Their closest neighbors were Blackfeet Native Americans. By the end of the decade, the family returned to the Towson area of Baltimore County where they resided until 1950 when they moved to Chestertown. Mrs. Trippe graduated from the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore in 1940 and attended Sweet Briar College in VA. When World War II broke out, she came home to Chestertown, MD and ran the International Division of her father's company, LaMotte Chemical. As a young girl, she often spent the summer in Madison, Wisconsin with the Bardeens, her mother's family. The LaMottes were also summer-long residents of Ocean City, MD, with Mr. LaMotte, Sr. commuting down on the weekends. They were at home in their rented oceanfront property when the Great Hurricane of 1933 struck.Mrs. Trippe had vivid memories of her father, an accomplished and enthusiastic amateur cinematographer, shooting 16mm movies of the storm; those movies are now in the historical archives at Ocean City. In June 1950, she had a blind date with Barclay Haskins Trippe, Jr., from Talbot County at a benefit party at Wye House. The date was engineered by their respective mothers and was an instant success. On November 25, 1950, they were married at the bride's home, Drayton Manor, in Chestertown. The couple settled in Easton, where they built their home on the Trippe family farm on the Tred Avon River. Mr. Trippe died in June 2011. Mrs. Trippe was active in numerous organizations and was Past President of the Junior Auxiliary of Memorial Hospital; the Churchwomen of Christ Church, Easton; the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore; and the Harbor Club. She was also a past Chairman of the Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage. She held memberships in many local organizations including the Harbor Club, Talbot Country Club, Tred Avon Yacht Club, Talbot Historical Society and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. She was a charter member of the Garden Club of the Eastern Shore. Later in life, inspired by listening to her husband, family, and friends talk about golf all the time, she secretly began taking lessons herself. When she was ready, she sprang the news to Mr. Trippe, who was delighted. For many years afterwards, the couple took trips with friends and family to various golfing destinations. Nancy was an active golfer in the Talbot Country Club Nine-Hole Ladies group and enjoyed the friends, old and new, she made there immensely. Mrs. Trippe was sincerely enthusiastic about any and all activities her husband, children, and grandchildren were involved in and cheerfully showed up at each and every one of them no matter where or when, whether it involved sailboats, horses, or hockey and lacrosse sticks. Mrs. Trippe is survived by her two daughters, Catherine Trippe McCarty (Patrick J.) of Richmond, VA, and Nancy LaMotte Trippe of Easton. She has three granddaughters, Sarah Barclay Cutts, Charlotte Trippe Cutts, and Sophie LaMotte Cutts, all of Easton. In addition, she is survived by two sisters-in-law, Isabel B. LaMotte of Baltimore, MD, and Julia R. LaMotte of Jacksonville, FL, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Trippe was predeceased by her three brothers, Frank L. LaMotte, Jr., Charles V.B. LaMotte, and David H. LaMotte, and David’s wife, Elizabeth C. LaMotte. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Goldsborough St., Easton, MD, on Saturday, November 21 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 314 North St., Easton, MD or to Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD.

Eleanor LaMotte Trippe

January 21, 1922 - October 26, 2015