Frederick Lippitt

Frederick Lippitt was born on December 29, 1916, and died on May 11, 2005. He was an American military officer, attorney, politician, public servant, and philanthropist. He served as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

Lippitt was a descendant of a prominent Rhode Island colonial family. His father was United States Senator Henry F. Lippitt (1856–1933), and his mother was Lucy Hayes Herron Lippitt (1877–1961). His grandfather was Governor Henry Lippitt, and his uncle was Governor Charles Warren Lippitt. Nellie Herron Taft, who was the First Lady of the United States as the wife of President William Howard Taft, was his aunt. He was also related to U.S. Senator John Chafee and Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, making him part of a notable political lineage.

Lippitt received his preparatory education at St. Mark's School. He graduated from Yale University in 1939 and subsequently attended Yale Law School, where he joined the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. His legal studies were temporarily interrupted by his enlistment in the United States Army during World War II.

He enlisted on August 6, 1941, prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. During the war, he served in New Caledonia with the Americal Division in 1942, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery on October 20, 1942, and later served in Italy with the 91st Infantry Division. Some sources suggest that he may have served in the Philippines, but this is not confirmed in his official legislative biography. On July 24, 1944, he was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart. He was promoted to first lieutenant by the end of the war and achieved the rank of captain on December 10, 1945. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious combat service.

Lippitt completed his law degree at Yale Law School in 1946 after his military service. He was discharged from active duty in 1946 and joined the Rhode Island National Guard on August 5, 1947. During the Korean War, he was mobilized with the 43rd Infantry Division on September 5, 1950, and served in Germany until his demobilization on August 23, 1952. Later, he continued his military service in the National Guard, being promoted to major on February 2, 1953, and serving as the commander of the 103d Field Artillery Battalion until its redesignation in 1961. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on February 19, 1957, and retired from the National Guard in 1965 after 24 years of service.

Professionally, Lippitt practiced law after completing his education. He passed the Rhode Island Bar and worked at the law firm Edwards and Angell, where he eventually became a senior partner. He retired from the firm in 1984 upon entering the special election for Mayor of Providence, which was triggered by the removal of Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci.

Lippitt served on various boards, including the Providence Institution for Savings (Old Stone Bank), Rhode Island Hospital (from 1954 to 1996), and the Rhode Island School of Design. He also held positions within non-profit organizations, notably as senior fellow and trustee of Brown University, chairman of the board of Rhode Island Hospital, and chairman of the Providence Plan. In 1977, Brown University awarded him an honorary doctorate, and in 2004, its President's Medal.

In the political arena, Lippitt was a lifelong Republican, though he ran as an independent in some elections. He was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in November 1960, representing the College Hill district, and served eleven two-year terms from 1961 to 1983, including ten years as House Minority Leader. His legislative work included advocacy for civil rights, fiscal responsibility, and government transparency, notably contributing to the passage of the Rhode Island Fair Housing Act of 1968 and opposing the imposition of a state income tax in 1970.

Lippitt ran for Mayor of Providence three times (1982, 1984, and 1990), losing each race. In 1982, he finished third behind Cianci and Darigan. Following Cianci’s removal from office in 1984, Lippitt narrowly lost a special election to Joseph Paolino. He later served as Director of the Rhode Island Department of Administration (1985–1988) under Governor Edward DiPrete and was an unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1988. In 1989, he was appointed to the Providence Housing Court, and in 1990, ran again for mayor, narrowly losing to Cianci.

Lippitt was involved with numerous non-profit organizations, including Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital. He was a hereditary member of the Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati and an honorary member since 1972. His familial connections included membership in the Hope Club, a private social club in Providence.

He was survived by his sister, Mary Ann Lippitt, a pioneering aviator and businesswoman. Throughout his life, Lippitt held memberships in various organizations, including the Phi Delta Phi fraternity.