Lyman Alonzo Ripperton III, 56, died Thursday September 28, 2000 at UNC Hospitals from complications resulting from a severe heart attack. A native of Austin, Texas, he was the son of Alexandra Passios Ripperton and the late Dr. Lyman Alonzo Ripperton II.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday October 7, 2000 at the Chapel of the Cross, 304 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill.
Lyman graduated from Chapel Hill High School in 1962 and attended UNC Chapel Hill. His career in computing spanned decades. At the time of his death he was the Manager of Network and Technical Services in the Information Services Division of UNC Hospitals.
A long time parishioner at the Chapel of the Cross, Lyman served as Junior Warden and vestry member and was an active lay reader.
Lyman was active as a scout leader for 28 years. He was Scoutmaster of Troop 9 in Chapel Hill for a total of 17 years, serving from 1973-1982, and again from 1994 to present. From 1982 to 1994, he served as the Institutional Representative for the Chapel of the Cross, overseeing the scouting program. He was also active in Cub Scouts for a number of years, before his return as Scoutmaster. Lyman made himself available to each and every boy that came through the scouting program. An active outdoorsman, Lyman taught basic backpacking skills to scouts during trips locally in North Carolina and as far away as the Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico. Twenty-four boys advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout during Lyman’s tenure, with at least 2 more expected to achieve the rank in the coming year. For meritorious service in scouting Lyman was awarded the Silver Beaver award by the Occoneechee Council and the St. George award by the Episcopal Church.
Lyman also played an active role in the school that his children attend. In addition to being the acting President of the Board of Directors of Emerson Waldorf School, he served on the Finance Committee, the Development Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee, and the Tuition Adjustment Committee. He created the school's web site and served as its webmaster. He shared his lifelong love of music with the children of the school by teaching recorder for the past six years. He inspired others with his long term vision for the school, including the establishment of an endowment fund and the future development of a high school.
He started Waldorf High School Teacher Training in July, intending to become a High School math teacher when he retired from his position at UNC Hospitals.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa Mebane Ripperton of the home; daughter Cheryl Ripperton Rettie of Pittsboro; daughter and son-in-law Lisa and Dan Poirier of Durham; sons Jonathan Graham Ripperton and Daniel Sperring Ripperton of the home; daughter Rebecca Alexandra Ripperton of the home; mother Alexandra Passios Ripperton of Chapel Hill; brother David Ripperton of Chapel Hill; brother Sean Ripperton of Greensboro; and sister Melanie Chapman of Baton Rouge, LA.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lyman Ripperton Memorial High School Fund of Emerson Waldorf School, 6211 New Jericho Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.