Michael Justin Lippe

"I was born in 1943 in Columbus, Ohio, but I grew up in places like Cuba, Singapore, and Belgium. It sounds exciting and it was, but it also meant that I didn't really get to know my own country until much later.

After law school, I decided that a legal career was not really in my future. I joined the Peace Corps, where I served three years in Botswana. As many others have said of their time in the Peace Corps, it was the job of a lifetime. I met my first wife there, married and adopted her three boys, and we decided to continue an international-style life. During the next twenty years, this led us to places such as Kenya, Tunisia, and the Ivory Coast. We also added one more son to our family. I retired in 1996, but continued to work internationally as a consultant. Botswana had been a defining moment in my life. What came next was also one. In December 2007, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I fully expected to die in 2008, but when this did not happen, I decided to write a book on this experience with my amazing oncologist, Dung T. Le, MD. At this point in my life, at an age I never expected to reach, I take things very slowly. I don't plan too far into the future. I do, however, think about another book, and may just try it."

Michael was the son of an American diplomat and indeed did grow up all over the world. He came back to the United States for university and received his JD from Harvard in the mid 60s. After his service in the Peace Corps, he worked in Africa with USAID. His government specialties were in urban planning, specifically housing. His assignments took him to many parts of Africa, and it was an exciting and fruitful time.

Later, as a consultant, he based out of Washington DC, and then Shephardstown West Virginia where he lived with his second wife. For part of the year, he would be in places like Beijing, or Prague. Concurrently, he became interested in mediation and did work on behalf of refugees seeking asylum in the United States. In late 2007 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and his world changed. His focus now centered on staying well and living fully. He wrote a book about his experiences with cancer, and was working on several ideas for other pieces.

Michael passed away April 28th 2014. He was in process of moving to New Zealand where his youngest son had settled. His second oldest son, Motho was busy helping him get ready for the move. In the end, he had six years beyond his wildest expectations and most of those years were pain free and relatively active. He wrote a book, and continued traveling for pleasure. He was always involved in the well being of his children and his grandchildren.

He is survived by his four sons; Motaki, Motho, Thapelo, and Leungo; seven grandchildren; his former wives Lesego Lippe and Beth Bellamy; his brother Stuart, and sister Laurie.

We will all miss Michael enormously. His liveliness, his humor, his continuing interest in the world served to make him a sought out friend, father, and brother