Robert Gaipa
July 20, 1929 — February 20, 2016
Robert F. Gaipa, 86, a retired elementary school teacher and principial and lifelong Stamford resident, passed away peacefully at Stamford Hospital on Saturday February 20, 2016. He was born in Stamford on July 20, 1929, the son of the late Frank C. and Josephine Campanile Gaipa. He is survived by his loving wife, Josephine Hanulik Gaipa, his daughters Roberta Menapace and her husband John of Toronto, ON, Dr. Elizabeth Egan and her husband David of Minneapolis, MN, his son Dr. Mark Gaipa and his wife Farida of Niles, IL, his brother Walter Gaipa and his wife Mildred of Hilton Head, SC and his three beloved granddaughters, Samantha and Kimberly Menapace and Veronic (Nika) Gaipa.
Mr. Gaipa graduated from Stamford High School in 1947, attended the University of Connecticut and received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in 1952 from New Haven Teacher’s College. He was awarded a Master’s of Art Degree and professional 6th Year Certification from Fairfield University.
He began teaching in Stamford in 1952 at Willard School and later taught at Hart and Westover. He became assistant principal in 1969 at Steven’s School and in 1973 at the newly built Stillmeadow School. The following year he was appointed principal of Springdale School. He served as principal at Rogers school for two years before retiring in 1982.
Mr. Gaipa served as supervisor of interns and student teachers at the Graduate School of Education, Bridgeport University and as the State Assessor of first year teachers for the State of Connecticut Department of Education. Also, during retirement, he worked as a psychiatric counselor for two and half years at River House, which was connected to Silver Hills Hospital in New Canaan.
During the Korean War, Mr. Gaipa served as Staff Sergeant with 8055th MASH during the last six months of the conflict and, after the Armistice of July 1953, was assigned as instructor at the 8th Army Medical Training Center in Chunchon, South Korea -34th Medical Battalion. He returned to the United States in June 1954.
Mr. Gaipa was a member of the Stamford and National Education Associations, served as president and was a board member of Chapter 4539 AAR, a board member of the Stamford Senior Center, a founding member of the Stamford Senior Men’s Association, a member of the VFW Springdale, Post 9617, a member of the Korean War Veterans’ Association and a member of the SHS Class of 1947 Reunion Committee.
A funeral procession will leave the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT on Wednesday February 24, 2016 at 9:15AM and proceed to St. John’s RC Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien, CT for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00AM. Interment will follow at Fairfield Memorial Park Cemetery, Oaklawn Avenue, Stamford. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday February 23, 2016 from 4:00 to 8:00PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation be made to Alzheimer’s Association of Connecticut, 2075 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.
Mr. Gaipa graduated from Stamford High School in 1947, attended the University of Connecticut and received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in 1952 from New Haven Teacher’s College. He was awarded a Master’s of Art Degree and professional 6th Year Certification from Fairfield University.
He began teaching in Stamford in 1952 at Willard School and later taught at Hart and Westover. He became assistant principal in 1969 at Steven’s School and in 1973 at the newly built Stillmeadow School. The following year he was appointed principal of Springdale School. He served as principal at Rogers school for two years before retiring in 1982.
Mr. Gaipa served as supervisor of interns and student teachers at the Graduate School of Education, Bridgeport University and as the State Assessor of first year teachers for the State of Connecticut Department of Education. Also, during retirement, he worked as a psychiatric counselor for two and half years at River House, which was connected to Silver Hills Hospital in New Canaan.
During the Korean War, Mr. Gaipa served as Staff Sergeant with 8055th MASH during the last six months of the conflict and, after the Armistice of July 1953, was assigned as instructor at the 8th Army Medical Training Center in Chunchon, South Korea -34th Medical Battalion. He returned to the United States in June 1954.
Mr. Gaipa was a member of the Stamford and National Education Associations, served as president and was a board member of Chapter 4539 AAR, a board member of the Stamford Senior Center, a founding member of the Stamford Senior Men’s Association, a member of the VFW Springdale, Post 9617, a member of the Korean War Veterans’ Association and a member of the SHS Class of 1947 Reunion Committee.
A funeral procession will leave the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT on Wednesday February 24, 2016 at 9:15AM and proceed to St. John’s RC Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien, CT for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00AM. Interment will follow at Fairfield Memorial Park Cemetery, Oaklawn Avenue, Stamford. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday February 23, 2016 from 4:00 to 8:00PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation be made to Alzheimer’s Association of Connecticut, 2075 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.
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