James Foster Rippey

James Foster Rippey James Foster Rippey, 84, died February 27, 2016. Jim was born July 26th, 1931 in Portland, Oregon the only child of Dorothy Foster Rippey and Loyd Rippey. He was raised in Coos Bay, Oregon. Jim graduated from Marshfield High School in 1949, and from the University of Oregon with a degree in business administration in 1953. While at the University of Oregon he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity where he served as president his senior year. He developed lifelong friendships with many of his SigEp brothers. Jim was fortunate to meet his future bride during spring term of their senior year at University of Oregon. He received his master's degree, from New York University in 1954. Jim married his wife of 61 years, Shirley Jerene Kendall, October 3, 1954. He went to work at Merrill Lynch in New York City. After two years he was transferred to Portland. Jim and Shirley were happy to get back to the west. In 1961 Jim and Jerry Inskeep started Rippey and Inskeep Inc. They started Columbia Management Company in 1964. In 1967, Columbia established Oregon's first mutual fund, Columbia Growth Fund. The company grew to approximately 250 employees in Portland. He and his partners sold the firm to Fleet Financial in 1997. In addition to his commitments to Columbia, Jim held leadership roles in the community with the St. Vincent Hospital and Medical Center Foundation, the Portland Rotary, the Auld Lang Syne Society and the University of Oregon Foundation, among others. Jim was honored with receiving the Lundquist College of Business Visionary Alumni Award in 2003 and the University of Oregon Pioneer Award in 2004. He and Shirley jointly received the Simon Benson Award from Portland State University in 2010. Jim and Shirley Rippey established the JFR Foundation in 1993. The family foundation supports education, children's services and youth development in Oregon. Jim had a true zest for life. Shirley said that Jim was phenomenally interested in a wide variety of topics. She believes his success in the investment business was due to his breadth of knowledge and worldwide interest. Jim was intellectually curious, but he also enjoyed playing tennis, swimming, skiing, hunting, fishing, crabbing, and tending his garden. He was a true outdoorsman. Jim was known for his honesty, intellect, humility, curiosity and leadership abilities. The entire family had the opportunity to spend time with Jim in the last few weeks. Jim was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Shirley Rippey, his son Jeff Rippey and wife Melissa, son Tim Rippey and wife Jan, daughter Robin Holman and husband Doug. They have seven grandchildren: James and Mason Rippey, Eric and Valerie Rippey and Sarah, Kendall and Heather Holcomb. During the last few months of his life Jim received tremendous care from the doctors and staff at St. Vincent Hospital, for which the Rippey family is grateful. A celebration of Jim's life is planned for 2 p.m. Monday, March 14, 2016 in Miller Hall at the World Forestry Center. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to a charity of your choice.