Jessie K. Lipson

Age 96. Passed away peacefully on November 11, 2025 in her home in Swampscott. She had a life full of meaning, relying on her extraordinary strength and resilience to carry her and her family through joys and challenges alike.

Her strength and resilience had their roots in her childhood. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Jessie was the oldest of three children and took on family roles beyond her years when her mother, Lyllian Isaacs, had to focus on working long hours to provide for her family. Jessie’s uncles David Rose and Lewis Rose were each an important presence in her life during and beyond her formative years.

Jessie delighted in spending time with her late husband Bob, her friends, her children, and her grandchildren. She was thrilled to meet her first great-grandchild just one month ago. Jessie and Bob also enjoyed the company of their wonderful friends.

She and Bob traveled widely, including to Europe, the Pacific, and other international destinations, reflecting her cultural interests, his work, and their love of exploring new places together. Jessie’s home and those of her family still burst with artifacts and memories from each of her adventures.

Jessie enjoyed and found a lot of meaning in providing leadership in her community and beyond—especially in settings in which she could drive systemic change focused on respect, opportunity for women, and on supporting people who were struggling. A core part of her values was that no one should ever see themselves as less than anyone else.

Jessie was a trailblazer. She was the first woman to serve as president of Temple Sinai of Marblehead. She was a leader in ending the taboo on discussion of and action on domestic violence in the Jewish community. She was instrumental in starting the Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund of the North Shore—women pooling the philanthropic commitments they could afford so that together they could support community organizations serving girls and women from all backgrounds. And she was a leader in B’nai Brith Women—now Jewish Women International (JWI). JWI focuses on preventing domestic violence and on empowering women and girls from all backgrounds, and ensuring their safety, health, rights, and security. In these and other commitments, she was a compelling role model, forging a legacy that continues to drive progress.

Jessie was predeceased by her husband Robert Lipson, her parents Lyllian Isaacs and Henry Lawrence Isaacs, her brother Benjamin Isaacs, and her uncles David Rose and Lewis Rose. She is survived by sister Elaine Marmer and brother-in-law Burt Marmer, daughter Robin Lipson and son-in-law Matt Fishman, son Michael Lipson and daughter-in-law Jeanne Lipson, granddaughter Sarah Fishman (Daniel Berdugo), grandson David Fishman (Caitlin Ruzika), grandson Adam Lipson, granddaughter Kira Lipson, and great granddaughter Sutton Fishman. Jessie thoroughly enjoyed the time she spent with her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins—who also survive her and will miss her.

Her family is grateful for excellent care provided by a core team of physicians and home care and hospice professionals—all of whom helped her live as comfortable and meaningful a life as possible during her final years.

Jessie’s funeral service will be held at Temple Sinai, 1 Community Road, Marblehead on Friday, November 14, 2025 at 12 :00 PM. Interment will follow at Temple Sinai Cemetery, Danvers.

In lieu of flowers or food, her family respectfully requests contributions in Jessie’s name to Jewish Women International https://www.jwi.org/ or to Temple Sinai of Marblehead https://templesinaiweb.org/