Skip Kiphart Obituary, Skip Kiphart Obituary has passed away unexpectedly

Skip Kiphart Obituary, Death –  On November 13, 2022, the pioneer of the prairie known as Skip “Kip” Kiphart passed away unexpectedly. According to Michelle Haggerty, who serves as the State Program Coordinator for the Texas Master Naturalist Program. Kip was known to many of you as a supporter of monarch butterflies and the Monarch Larval Monitoring Program (MLMP). He was the driving force behind a good number of the Monarch Watch Programs and MLMPs that have been implemented in Texas. His work at the Cibolo Nature Center was both one of his most significant and longest-running initiatives. Kip used to make light of the situation by saying things like, “I must remark that there probably aren’t too many chest cutters who are published in the medical and the lept literature.” (this is an excerpt from a communication he sent to me regarding his most recent research on monarch lipids.)

Another breakthrough and beloved TMN initiative of Kip’s is the success of the North Texas Chapter’s TMN in having the rare Blackland Prairie remains at White Rock Lake Park in Dallas acknowledged and the Dallas Park and Recreation Department put correct management techniques into place. After winning multiple awards, the group went on to create “Prairie Fest,” an event that brings together several organizations from the surrounding area to raise awareness about the rare surviving prairie remnants. There was a piece written about it in the Dallas Morning News. (pictures are below) Because of this, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) awarded the City of Dallas and the Dallas Parks Department with the Lonestar Land Stewards Award in 2005.

If you knew Kip, then you knew him as an icon of our Texas Master Naturalist program and a fighter for monarchs. Kip passed away recently. When the North Texas Chapter was first established in 1998, Kip Kiphart was a participant in the initial training class that was held for new members. In the context of our state program, the North Texas Chapter was the second chapter to be established. Between the years 1999 and 2000, Kip held the position of President of the Chapter. Kip had a successful career as a cardiothoracic surgeon for a long time before he started working with the TMN Program. At the time of his passing, Kip was with his family in Florida, where he still resides at the time. A memorial service is going to be held in Texas in the spring of the new year, as planned by the family. When the plans have been finalized, we will provide further details.

Additionally, Kip left his imprint on a few chapters located throughout the state. After relocating to the Hill Country region, he initially became active in the Alamo Area Chapter, and then, some time later, he assisted in the establishment of the Hill Country Chapter. Kip was one of our first members to achieve the 10,000 hour, 15,000 hour, and ultimately the 20,000 hour volunteer service award milestones. Kip Kiphart was, to put it plainly, a “mover and shaker” for the Texas Master Naturalist program and for Texas’ natural resources, and as a direct result of his efforts, we are all in a much better position today. I hope that you will be able to give your TMN friends and family a warm embrace during this Thanksgiving and holiday season, and that you will rejoice and celebrate with them. This year, we have suffered the loss of one too many of our TMN Giants, including Kip Kiphart, Sonny Arnold, and Dick Benoit, amongst others. Please remember to keep our family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Skip Kiphart Obituary, Death –  On November 13, 2022, the pioneer of the prairie known as Skip “Kip” Kiphart passed away unexpectedly. According to Michelle Haggerty, who serves as the State Program Coordinator for the Texas Master Naturalist Program. Kip was known to many of you as a supporter of monarch butterflies and the Monarch…