John Tripp: Memory Eternal

I was deeply saddened today to learn of the death of John Tripp, aged 59.

I cannot say John was among my friends, for he was not. He was an acquaintance, with whom I conversed a few times first as a news reporter and second as a guy involved in music who performed in a couple of shows with his daughter Meredith. But without hesitation I say, I would have been proud to have been his friend.

If there was ever a man who could have borne the mantle of Mr Quincy after the passing of Joe Bonansinga, John Tripp would have been a prime contender. Perhaps he could even be called Mr Tri-States, for his involvement and committment extended far beyond the border of Quincy. Take his many years of devoted service to Culver-Stockton College in Canton, for example.

John is an example all of us could do to emulate. Certainly he blogged far more than I ever seem to find time to do. His weekly "Up Down and Around our Town" was routinely cheery, thoughtful, and well worth the few minutes it took to read each Monday. If I may, John displayed great wisdom, the kind that few of us attain. John was blessed.

I will miss him and his quiet optimism.

It is appropriate that his final posting on Monday May 11th was about the departure of Culver Stockton president Bill Fox. It is appropriate that the new president looks rather like John Tripp (to the point of "separated at birth?"). John surely got a chuckle out of being told the resemblance was uncanny.

It is even more appropriate that he began that posting thus:

"So many of us die with our music still in us", as Oliver Wendell Holmes so aptly put. His words were designed to make sure that we share all of our gifts as often as possible with those that are close. It speaks of making sure that those special talents are developed, shared and most of all, improved upon. Such is the challenge of living in a fast-moving society. Reality tells us that there will always be starts and stops; it's the journey that really counts the most.

John, your music was lovely and not long enough, but you shared your talents freely with the kind of largesse made famous in song and story. Your journey will be remembered by the many whose lives you touched.

Memory eternal. Memory Eternal. Memory Eternal.