Lasting Memories
Edwin Alexander Seipp, Jr.
Feb. 23, 1918-Jan. 3, 2014
Atherton, California
A consummate gentleman to the end, Ed Seipp died quietly on January 3 at the Vi in Palo Alto. He was 95.
Ed was born to Edwin and Ella (Uihlein) Seipp in Chicago, Illinois. He and his sister Pauline were raised in Chicago and spent their summers at the family's country home in Barrington, Illinois. He attended the Latin School of Chicago and graduated from Princeton University in 1940 with a degree in chemistry.
Ed began his business career at Diversey Corp. in Chicago. During that time, he also flew as a captain with the Civil Air Patrol, his eyesight having disqualified him from service in the Air Force.
In 1947 a transfer within the Golden State Company brought him to San Francisco, which became his new hometown. In 1956, Ed became president of Speedmaster Engineering Co., a San Leandro firm specializing in state-of-the-art, high-strength die castings, from which he retired in 1980.
In 1952, Ed married Pearl Anne Wieboldt in Highland Park, Illinois. Thus began a vibrant married life of over 61 years. Ed and Annie lived in San Francisco until settling in Atherton, where they raised their family.
Ed's dream of building a mountain home was realized upon completion of the family?s house at Alpine Meadows, where they spent many magical holidays. Ed was an avid skier and noted with delight that all his children became skiers. Ed and Annie embraced the "aloha" spirit of Hawaii, where they spent their honeymoon and celebrated many birthdays.
A voracious reader with boundless curiosity, Ed was an elegant man of keen intellect, steadfast integrity, and broad interests, which he pursued with great energy and generosity.
Ed served on the boards of the Rucker Company and Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co. His many civic and philanthropic engagements included service on the boards of Castilleja School (four years as chair), MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois (honorary doctor of laws degree in 1979), Planned Parenthood, the Mental Research Institute, Lucille Salter Packard Children?s Hospital at Stanford, Filoli, the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and the San Francisco Symphony.
Ed is survived by his beloved wife Annie; daughter Anita; sons Edwin III (Win), Frederick, and Paul, and their wives, Barbara, Carol, and Julie; six grandchildren, Emily and Thomas Marmaduke, Edwin IV (Alex) and Melissa Seipp, and Bradford and Stephanie Seipp, who love their Papa. Pre-deceased by his parents and sister, Ed is also survived by Pauline?s two sons, Peter and Ren Goltra, and their families. Ed?s devotion to family lives on in his children.
Annie and the children would like to express their deepest gratitude to Ed?s extraordinary care-givers whose exceptional compassion, loyalty, and skill sustained us all: William Halapua, Rolando Linaac, Monte Fau, and Beth Saludez.
A memorial service in celebration of Ed?s life will be held on Friday, January 24, at 2:00 PM at Christ Church, 815 Portola Road, Portola Valley, California.
Ed took pleasure in giving to many worthy causes, too numerous to mention. For those so inclined, the family would welcome memorial gifts to the California Academy of Sciences, Peninsula Family Service, San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, Yosemite Conservancy, or to a charitable organization of your choice.
"His life was gentle, and the elements; So mix?d in him that Nature might stand up; And say to all the world, ?This was a man!?" ---William Shakespeare
Jan. 22, 2014
