Douglas L. Lippert

At the time and date of God’s choosing, Douglas Lee Lippert passed peacefully from these earthly bounds into the heavenly realm of God where he met the face of Jesus on February 13, 2024. 

He was the son of Norman Henry and Beulah “Billie” (Brown) Lippert and arrived on October 9, 1943, in Batavia, N.Y. 

A graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, Douglas became a teacher of English at Oakfield-Alabama Central School, but shortly realized his true calling. He followed in his father’s footsteps (NYSP 1927-1952) and joined the New York State Police in February 1966. His assignments were in Remsen, Painted Post, Avon, Clarkson (Brockport), Oneida, and Morrisville. He was appointed station commander in 1976, and after twenty years of service, retired in 1987. He went on to serve as the Madison County Coordinator for STOP-DWI from 1987-2008. In 2009, he was appointed as the Oneida City Public Safety Commissioner and supervised both the police and fire departments.

He was a faithful member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Oneida and later became a Certified Lay Pastor for the Presbytery of Utica. For 25 years he was a mentor, teacher, and guide to the Oneida Church Youth Group known as Jesus Street / The Connection. He also served as a member and former President of the Oneida Public Library. 

He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 62 years, Alicia Mary (Schiffer). They were married June 6, 1965, in Holy Family R.C.  Church, Hicksville, NY and were blessed by the arrivals of son Andrew John (Amy) and daughter Kristen Alicia (Philip) Martin.

For such a decent, law-abiding man, he was a terrible cheater at ping pong and Monopoly and a shocking trash talker when on the basketball court. He played recreational volleyball like the fate of the world was at stake. Once he discovered his true sports passion -- tennis – later in life, he never needed any coaxing to jump onto the court and do battle with his racket. He was a devoted animal lover who spoiled his dogs on an unimaginable scale and always kept his bird feeders full in kindness to God’s many winged creatures and to the benefit of countless overfed squirrels. He had dreadful taste in vampire movies and loved an eclectic array of music, from Mozart to David Bowie to Joan Jett. He showed care by topping off the oil in your car or leaving vitamins next to your cereal bowl. He wrote beautiful, compassionate poems in honor of his parents when they passed - as he did for all significant family events. He was a special person who spent his life in service to others, and he will be deeply missed.

His legacy lives on in the love he had for his children and grandchildren:  Anna, Grace, Nathaniel, and Catherine Lippert; Caroline, Lucy, Emma, and Augustus (Gus) Martin. He is also survived by his brother Stephen (Hallie) Lippert of Huron OH; niece Deborah (Jeff) Gillen and their children, Stephanie, Brittany, and Jacob; his brother Gregory (Ellen) Lippert of Elmhurst Il, and their daughters, Emily (John Matthews) and their children Hannah and Asher, and daughter Margaret.

Douglas will be honored at a memorial service officiated by Pastor Michael Yeoman on May 4, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church of Oneida, 405 Broad Street, Oneida, N.Y.  Additional info will follow.  Personal and professional care is being provided to Doug and his family by Jeffrey T. Paul, Director, of the Coolican-McSweeney & Paul Funeral Home, 322 Washington Avenue, Oneida.  To offer a condolence, please visit: coolican-mcsweeney.com

The family wishes to thank the staff at St. Luke’s Nursing Center, Champlin Rd., Utica for their compassionate care and friendship, as well as those from Hospice Services, Middle Settlement Rd., New Hartford, NY

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