Shirley Rippey, UO friend and advocate, passes away at age 91
 

Shirley Rippey, a University of Oregon alumna, advocate for children’s education and wellbeing, and philanthropist, died Thursday, Jan. 19, in Tigard. She was 91.

“Donors like Shirley Rippey know that student success is at the heart of everything we do,” said UO Interim President Patrick Phillips. “She was a kind and altruistic person who had deep affection for the University of Oregon. She will be dearly missed.”

Rippey and her spouse Jim were active supporters of the UO for more than 60 years. They gave generously to the College of Arts and Sciences, the Lundquist College of Business, the Knight Library, and the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. Shirley also served on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Advisory Board from 1993-2005.

"I was lucky enough to be the first holder of a chair endowed by Shirley and Jim Rippey in the College of Arts and Sciences--not just because the chair helped to support my research and teaching, but because it opened the door to a personal relationship with two extraordinarily thoughtful, caring, supportive people,” said Alec Murphy, professor of geography. “Sadly, Jim died a few years ago, but Shirley and I stayed in touch, and I would look forward to my periodic visits with her in the Portland suburbs. Shirley's warmth and upbeat personality always showed though, as did her commitment to the University of Oregon--especially its undergraduate education mission. She was a generous, devoted supporter of our community who will be greatly missed."

Shirley was also a champion for the education and wellbeing of students both in Oregon and at the UO.

“Shirley was an amazing individual with a true passion and commitment to the power of education to transform lives,” said Bruce Blonigen, Edward Maletis Dean and Philip H. Knight Professor at the Lundquist College of Business. “She loved funding both new and proven ideas to help all students have access to higher education and to thrive in their college experience.”

In 2021, she established permanent funding for students experiencing unforeseen financial difficulties, ensuring they’d have the resources to continue their studies with the Shirley Rippey Students in Crisis Fund. And in 2008, she became involved in the Student Academy to Inspire Learning (SAIL) program, helping it to grow from a summer program serving 19 students to one of the top college-prep programs in the nation, helping thousands of low-income high school students year-round connect with peer mentors and faculty.

“She was truly invested in people,” said Lara Fernandez, Executive Director of SAIL. “And she really wanted SAIL to succeed. Shirley would call me ecstatically every month wanting to hear about program and student updates. In earlier years, Shirley would visit SAIL during our summer programs and bring her family members showing her enthusiasm for helping to create impact on pre-college students’ success. She was pivotal to the SAIL program, she put us on the map.”

Shirley graduated from the UO in 1953 with a degree in psychology. It was there she met her husband Jim. With a shared passion for education and student success, Shirley and Jim would eventually establish the James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation. With a mission to support youth services and children’s education in Oregon, the Rippey Foundation is considered one of the most impactful and influential in Oregon.

She is survived by her three children, Jeff, Tim, and Robin.