Michael D. Triplett

Michael Dean Triplett, 75, of Churubusco, IN, died unexpectedly on March 22, 2023. We are all shocked and saddened by his passing. He was born in 1947 in Fort Wayne to Donna (Fields) Triplett and Charles Triplett, whose lifelong love story began on a cross-country bus trip in 1945. He was the second of their four children.

After graduating from South Side High School in Fort Wayne, Michael enlisted at 18 with the U.S. Navy. He first attended nuclear power school and then served aboard the world’s first nuclear powered submarine, the USS Nautilus. He was honorably discharged in 1971. Immediately after, he attended Northeastern University completing an accelerated Master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1976.

He worked as an Engineer for General Electric in Schenectady, New York for many years. He later began his tenure at O.D. Hopkins Associates in New Hampshire, where he discovered his passion for roller coaster design. Michael designed a number of coasters including Desert Storm and The Patriot in Phoenix, AZ, and the log flume in the Mall of America all of which you can still ride and enjoy today. Michael spent the remainder of his career as the Safety Enforcement Supervisor for the office of Carnival and Amusement Ride Safety in the State of New Jersey before retiring in 2019. He continued to review and consult on designs part-time until his passing. Michael excelled in his field and had a deep knowledge, attention to detail and passion for safety and policy reform that made New Jersey one of the safest places to go to an amusement park. It also gained him international recognition in his field and people all over the world would ask Michael Triplett the best way to make rides safe.

Michael moved back to the Fort Wayne area with his wife Angela after retirement. He lived his last years among family there. It brought him great happiness to be involved in their lives. One of his great joys was to love and be surrounded by people and find connection and commonality with them.

When Michael wasn’t working he loved to read, both fiction and non-fiction. As a child he read his family’s entire 1959 World Book Encyclopedia, while frequently stopping to regale his siblings with interesting facts. In his youth Michael was an avid distance runner, completing two marathons and countless runs with his children in the stroller. As an Indiana native, he had a love of basketball that he passed on to his children, including coaching his daughters’ basketball team. He enjoyed playing board games with his children and other family members, and exercised his math brain by calculating optimal moves in strategy games. He was also a Colts fan who loved watching and going to the game with his brother-in-law, Jim Hedrick, and nephew Brian Hedrick.

He leaves behind his loving wife Angela Triplett; children Lisa McCarty (husband John), Erinn Triplett, Amanda Triplett, and Matthew Triplett, and Angela’s children Lisa Gerber (husband Jim), Christina Henry (husband Josh), and Charles Triplett (wife Harmony). His grandchildren are Katelyn Triplett, Hailey Triplett, Tyler Henry, Wyatt Henry, Raven McCarty, and Colin McCarty. His surviving siblings, David Triplett and Carol Triplett, along with their children and grandchildren, will also remember him with love. Michael was predeceased by his brother Jerome Triplett.

Funeral service will be 11:00 am, Thursday, March 30, 2023, at D.O. McComb and Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road, Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior. Calling will also be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm, Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Covington Memorial Gardens, Fort Wayne. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, for which Michael fundraised in life, or to the family to assist with funeral expenses c/o Angela Triplett. For full obituary, fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with Michael’s family at www.mccombandsons.com.