Mr. Ripley, age 84, of Boynton Beach, FL, died Friday morning, June 4, 2010. He was born in 1926 to Ernest E. and Marion Ripley of Methuen, MA. During WW II Mr. Ripley served in the Pacific arena with the U.S. Navy Seabees from 1944-1946. In 1947, Cliff's parents took over Eason Nursing Home in Lake Worth, FL, which had been previously established by his maternal grandmother, Mary J. Eason. Upon the death of his father in 1960, his family incorporated the family run business; completely renovated it from a one story wood frame 30 bed facility into a state of the art (at that time) 120 bed two story CBS construction building complete with elevators; and continued to run the facility until it was sold in the early 80's.
Cliff received his BS in Engineering (1951) and his Masters in Education from the University of Miami. In 1966 he received his Educational Specialist Degree from the University of Florida. Cliff served as the Principal at Palm Beach Public School in Palm Beach (60-65); Principal of Seacrest High School in Delray Beach (65-70); and Assistant Superintendent of Palm Beach County Schools in Administrative Services from 1970 until his retirement in 1980. Mr. Ripley was a past president of Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association; Elementary Principals; Junior High Principals; Senior High Principals; and was a founder and chairperson of the Palm Beach County Math Council.
His civic affiliations were numerous. Cliff served on the Bethesda Hospital Foundation board in Boynton Beach for 15 years including a two year term as President. While President, he was instrumental in designing, funding, and fundraising for the employees' childhood learning center named the Clifford and Madeleine Ripley Early Learning Center. The center, founded in 1991 now serves approximately 90 children from newborns to pre-K, teaching educational material and important social skills. Cliff also was active in the Quail Ridge Golf and Country Club's Annual Day of Golf benefitting Bethesda Memorial Hospital.
His service as president of the Palm Beach County Mental Health Association (now the Oakwood Center of the Palm Beaches, Inc.) was instrumental in receiving a Federal grant to build the facility that offers comprehensive behavioral health services to all adults, children and families regardless of their ability to pay.
Mr. Ripley was the first president of the Quail Ridge Property Owners Association in 1980; served on the boards of the Phoenix Association and the Palm Beach County Psychiatric Association; was a 50 year member of Rotary International mostly in Delray Beach and receiving its "Service Above Self" award in 2008; and had been a Mason for over 60 years and a Shriner.
Cliff envisioned honoring students and giving scholarships for scholastic achievers. He founded the Scholastic Achievement Foundation of Palm Beach County in 1977. Every year for the last 33 years, the foundation holds a banquet at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach inviting many very distinguished keynote speakers and honoring outstanding students from every public, private, and parochial high school in the county. Approximately 4000 students have been honored over the years and over 225 scholarships awarded. Mr. Ripley is chairman emeritus.
Cliff's first wife of 50 years, Audrey Moore Ripley, predeceased him. He leaves his current wife Madeleine Desmonts Ripley who was born in Normandy, France. They were married in August of 2001.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM Wednesday, June 9th, at BOYNTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 800 West Boynton Beach Boulevard, Boynton Beach, with the Rev. Wayne Padgett, officiating. Interment will follow at Palm Beach Memorial Park, Lantana. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5-8 PM on Tuesday. Those who wish may make contributions to the Bethesda Hospital Foundation, the Scholastic Achievement Foundation, or their favorite charity in his memory.