William Bartlett Van Riper, Jr. died after a long illness on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at his home surrounded by his loving children. He was a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Jacksonville, FL, regularly attending the Traditional Latin Mass. Burial will take place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery following a Requiem Mass at St. Joseph’s Historic Church.
Mr. Van Riper was born in The Bronx, NY on October 19, 1931. He grew up on City Island, NY and resided in Byram, CT, and Kendall and Jacksonville, FL. He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Ann Marie (nee Fitzpatrick), and is survived by his seven children: William B. Van Riper, III of Jacksonville, FL; Catherine Helen Shopovick (Charles) of Palm Coast, FL; Ann Mercedes LaPorte (Joseph) of Hardwick, VT; Robert Gage Van Riper, CDR, USNR (Lori, nee Warren) of Tallahassee, FL; Jeanne Marie Hollington (Scott, MD) of Vilano Beach, FL; Maria Theresa Maloy (M. Norman, Col, USAF) of Swansea, IL; and Carole Elizabeth Polefko (John) of High Springs, FL. He had 20 grandchildren: Jason, Charles, Alyson, Chris, Jeff, Elizabeth, Katie, Jessica, Robbie, Kevin, Brian, Meghan, Cori, Samantha, Gillian, Alex, Jack, Julia, Patrick, and Max; and 1 great-grandchild: Derek.
He graduated from Mt. St. Michael Academy and from Manhattan College, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree and was awarded a Research Assistantship at MIT. He was a Professional Engineer in six states and a Diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. He served as Engineering Assistant Commissioner of Public Works, Greenwich, CT, President of Metcalf & Eddy of New York, President and Chairman of Connell Associates of Coral Gables FL, Development Manager of Koger Properties, Inc., Senior Project Manager of Stone, Joca & Mahoney of Jacksonville and several successor firms, retiring at age 75. His work took him to 30 states, Australia, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Trinidad, Honduras, and Puerto Rico.
He was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, an elected Justice of the Peace in Greenwich, CT, President of the Byram Republican Club and a member of the John Birch Society, the First Coast Tea Party and the Duval County Florida Patriots.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 17th with a Rosary Service at 7:00 p.m. in Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin. A Traditional Latin Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 18th in St. Joseph’s Historic Church, 4214 Loretto Road, Jacksonville, FL with Rev. Darius Sleszynski as Celebrant, followed by interment in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Divine Mercy House, 4118 Loretto Road, Jacksonville, FL 32223. https://www.divinemercyhouse.org/get-involved
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