Coach Pete LiPera, BHS '50, Passed Away Recently

POSTED BY PAM AND JON KIRKWOOD FEB 1, 2020
Sad news for all of us Burbank High Bulldogs...Pete LiPera passed away recently...He was a "Favorite" history teacher and Football Coach of so many...He was so proud of this 1962 "B" Football Team, being Foothill League Champs...Our Love and Sympathies go out to his wife, Sheila and all of his Family...God Bless and Thanks for the Wonderful Memories, Mr. LiPera...





NEWS ARTICLE
"1949 – Burbank 12, Burroughs 7. The “Big Game” made its debut in 1949. Former junior high and first year high school, John Burroughs, made what was supposed to be an easy Burbank victory a hard fought battle. The stronger Bulldog team prevailed, however, paced by Pete LiPera who later became head coach at Burbank, and Paul Cameron, who later starred at UCLA."
https://myburbank.com/burbank-and-burroughs-meet-for-63rd-time-in-big-game-friday/

Pete LiPera bottom left was ASB President



Joseph Baldino‎ posted this in 2018:
"COACH LIPERA TELLING ME NOT TO THROW ANOTHER PICK 6 WITH STEVE GULLION"


MISC PHOTOS FROM CERALBUS YEARBOOKS 1965, 1966 AND 1967

 

Peter A. LiPera, BHS 1950, Former BHS Teacher/Coach

Peter A. LiPera
January 27, 1930 – Riposto, Sicily  ~  
January 19, 2020 – Oro Valley, Arizona

Memorial Mass for Mr. Pete LiPera
Saturday, March 21, 2020 CANCELLED
9:30 A.M., St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
3801 Scott Road, Burbank, California

In lieu of flowers the LiPera Family asks you to support public education, and to Vote!

Peter LiPera was born in Riposto, Sicily on January 27, 1930, the youngest in the family.  When Pete was just three months old the LiPera Family moved from Sicily to the United States.  Pete was a longtime resident of Burbank.  He attended Burbank

High School, where he played football, and during his senior year he was the Student Body President.  He graduated in the Winter Class of 1950 from Burbank High.  

Pete then attended Occidental College on a full scholarship for football.  He left Occidental early to enlist in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, serving on the USS Jason as a Gunner’s Mate.  Later on he returned to Burbank High School where he taught and coached for 31 years from 1960 until his retirement in 1991.  During those years he taught European History, Western Civilization, Eastern Civilizations, and also taught Driver Training.  He coached for 15 years of his 31 years at Burbank High, two years coaching “B” Football, and 13

years as the Varsity Football Coach.  He had two championship teams during those years.  

After retirement Pete would sometimes spend entire days in his library reading, researching, and writing, and would stop just for meals.  He modeled integrity and valued learning.  Pete was a strong believer in “We The People” and in the responsibility of participating in our democracy.  He often told people to “Be sure and Vote!”  His love of Football also continued, in later life as a viewer each week during Football Season, dinnertime being during half-time!

Pete and his first wife, Marilyn, had three sons, Donn, David, and Scott, who also grew up in Burbank.  Marilyn passed away in 1972 after a long illness.  Nine years later in 1981 Pete and Sheila Byrne were married and lived in Burbank for the next fourteen years.  In 1995 after they both had retired they moved to Oro Valley, Arizona, near Tucson, where they have lived for the past 25 years.  Pete passed away in Oro Valley on January 19, 2020, only eight days before his 90th birthday on January 27.

Peter LiPera is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Sheila Byrne LiPera; his son Donn LiPera and wife Diane; his son Scott LiPera and partner Louis; and by countless friends, former students, and former players who have wonderful memories of this great man.

Pete was predeceased by his first wife, Marilyn Tucker LiPera, in 1972; his middle son, Dr. David B. LiPera, DC, in 2009 (a 1976 BHS graduate); and by all of his older siblings. Written by Alan Landros, BHS 1970

A FEW FACEBOOK COMMENTS
Tess Severson
I'm sad, he was a good guy

Nancy McNamara Zambrana
I’m so sad to hear this. He sure was a great guy! Rest In Peace Coach!❤️

Peggy Melton Cyphers
OMG so very sorry to hear this. I wasn't fortunate enough to have him as a teacher. It's like an era gone.
RIP Coach.

Louise Good Hernandez
Condolences to his family. May he Rest In Peace. 🙏🏻

Kathleen Wyatt Richardson
RIP coach you were wonderful 😪

Don Ray
How sad. He taught me to drive.

Mike Signorelli
I remember Mr. LiPara / Coach LiPera very well he was a great guy had him for European history Chop Stop wrong and Marc Anthony. He was a great man may he rest in peace with our Lord and may his wife and family find peace in the coming months and years God bless you Mr. Lepera🙏🙏🙏🙏

Harold Maxham
It was great playing for you Pete in 6i your first year at Burbank High. My thoughts and Prayers go out to Sheila and the rest of your family.

Annette Dinolfo Bennett
So sorry for the loss to his family and friends.My husband Tom was the Captain of his football varsity team with Coach Le Pera May He RIP . 🏈🏈

Barbara BJ Ferguson
So long Mr. Lipera you were a fun teacher! RIP 🙏🏼

Susan Rudin
I remember him well. Sad to hear, great man.

Harold Maxham
also took Drivers Ed. from Coach Li Pera.
Pam Kirkwood
And all you talked about was "football" !!!
Harold Maxham
You got that right Pam.
Harold Maxham I wasn't going to take it and on the first day I didn't show up at the school and the next thing I know he comes up to my house and tells me to get in the car and off we went with two girls in the car.

Georgette Bivins
I had him for World Culture. Best teacher ever!!!

Jennifer Morgan
Now that’s sad. He had a real passion for history and teaching kids. Wish I had appreciated him more when in HS.

Dorothy Aasen-Delg
He was my favorite high school teacher. So sad.

Loanne Walker Ginchereaux
❤️🙏🏻

Edie Walker
Oh no, my all time favorite teacher! He was my European History teacher - and what a story teller he was! He made history come to life for me and he was always upbeat and smiling - the kind of teacher who made school fun. I don't remember many of my teachers, but I will always remember him. Rest in peace, Coach LiPera♥️

George Kieffer
Pete was my drivers training instructor. RIP Mr. Lipera

Laura Jolls
Rest In Peace Mr. Lipera. He was my European History Teacher and he was also a fellow classmate of my Dad’s at Burbank High. Thoughts and prayers to his family🙏❤️

Ron Hagg
I had Mr. Lipera in World History. He was the BEST teacher, I can still see him when he was telling us about Hannibal. "OK Check this out Hannibal had these elephants ..." He's walking back and forth - very animated. "... Picture elephants going over the Alps - elephants. Are there elephants in Europe? Where did they come from?" From Africa and that's a long way to go." Anyway Mr. Lipera you were quite a teacher. RIP Coach. My prayers for his family.

Brandon Varga
Rest In Peace, Mr. LiPera!! I Had Mr. LiPera for World Cultures as a 10th Grader at BHS back in the late 1980s!! He was one of my most favorite teachers from my BHS Years, & he truly had a great love & a great passion for teaching History to young peop…See More

Sue Burnette
RIP Coach LiPera.

Valerie McMichen
He was my 10th grade history teacher. He was my favorite teacher at Burbank High. RIP, Mr. LiPera.

Jen Rez
🙏🏻

James McGillis
Mr. Lipera taught me Southeast Asian history in my senior year, 1966. I learned about the rivers of China and about their loess Cliffs, and so much more. His enthusiasm was unparalleled. He taught me so much!

Sandi Tillotson-Clum
Loved that guy! RIP my friend

Marty Maggiora
RIP Coach. I had the pleasure of playing under you in the Bhs Jbhs game.

Pat Bushman
My prayers and condolences to the family. So sorry for your loss. Rest in peace.

Lori Diane Pietrantonio
Best teacher I had for history. RIP Mr. LiPera

Pat Burkin
A nice man who was exceptional at his profession. RIP. Condolences to his family.

Steve Bishop
He really got me interested in history to this very day . Wasn’t my coach but I think he was my best teacher I ever had !!! RIP and Thank You ver much Sir !

Elaine Elliott
I was not good in history and he left me a lasting impression about getting excited about history! R.I.P. and thank you!

Linda Willson Nelson
Loved his history class! Still love history a zillion years later.

Scott Bruckner
So sad to hear of his passing. I loved his history class, it was my favorite, because of him. It surpassed him as my football coach. I have such wonderful memories of him. All our best to his family.

Scott Bruckner, BHS '66, Coach Pete LiPera and Dona (Foy) Bruckner, BHS '67 at BHS Centennial 2008


MORE FACEBOOK COMMENTS
Sue Basile
RIP 🙏

David De Hart
He taught a course on China and I learned a lot.

Shawn Quien
Taught me how to take good notes! Nice guy!

Terry Cuzzort
What a great teacher he was. Euro history was exciting and interesting in his class. RIP Mr. LiPera.

Bradley Schwartz
Was a memorable great coach / person

Randy Cotter
Had Me. LiPera for World History. His exciting method of teaching got me interested in history. My wife thinks I'm nuts because I read history books for fun.

Barbara Thompson
He was one of my favorite teachers! Rest In Peace!

Melissa Prater-Uribe
Rest well Mr. Li Pera, you have earned it! You touched so many lives and leave a wonderful legacy! Prayers for his family!

Christine Hill
Condolences to his family.

Dan Sibley
I had him for European history also. R.I.P coach

Mark Bishop Kosmak
European history..great teacher. RIP.

Pina Trotta-Buono
Yes, he was a great teacher!

Clayton Jackson Hendricks
Remember him starting at BHS the year I graduated, ‘61 . 😥 ❤️🚂

Bill Macris
European History...thanks Pete.

Raoul Max Gradvohl
How is his wife?

Melissa Garcia-Wolf
Awe😊such a classy guy

Tracey Kellstrom
🙏🙏

Laurel Hiestand
Such a dedicated educator. Rest in Peace , Pete.

Nadine Aguirre Lujan
I loved Mr. Lipera. I had him for history and he was so excited and animated when he taught! RIP

Karen Lessley Ingersoll
My mom graduated with him and then I had him as a history teacher. So sorry to see this
😢

Art Boylan
Had him for european history in 10th grade. Absolutely loved his class. He taught about karl marx and the book das kapital. The communist manifesto and their take on the 5 stages of society. Primitive slave owning feudal capitalism and ultimately communism. He differentiated the reasons for communism vs capitalism and why it would ultimately fail as a system. I was fascinated and ive loved history ever since then.

Anne Tackett Williams
Art Boylan how do you remember all that? I had him for history too.

Jillian McDonald Kelly
Oh no! Mr Lipera was such a nice man. I’m so sorry to hear this 🙏🏻❤️

Anne Tackett Williams
RIP Pete 😇😢

Linda Everett
I had Mr. Lipera for World History and loved his enthusiasm for history as well. He. reminded of my Dad, Pete Peterson in that regard. He brought history to life!🙏❤️🙏

Tom Carlile
Lucky to have him as a teacher and a coach. Rest In Peace Coach! Dave is waiting in heaven for you!

Toni Ethridge
😔😔😔😔😔

Joyce Miller
He was a wonderful teacher, I was lucky to be his student.

Anthony Morelli
RIP sir, thank you for all you all of your years of coaching and teaching!

Dale Levine
I’m sorry to hear this. RIP Mr. Lipera.

April Wind
Rest in Peace Coach 🙏💙

John Audette
He was a great man who never gave up on his students! He always gave his students many chances to make things better and try to understand and learn more. Through out my life I have always thought of him and what he taught us not only about the subject he taught but the inspiration and second chances he gave me to be a better student and to meet my goals RIP I hope you had a wonderful life and thank you for the lessons! You are and will be remembered alway!!!

Sam Rivero
RIP he was my history teacher 🙏

Trudie Lombard Hentze
I had him for drivers' ed and European History. Does anyone remember what a great artist he was? He drew a caveman on the chalk board, then proceeded to pace back and forth, saying, "Pithecanthropus Erectus". That was at least 55 years ago! What an incredible teacher he was. Just look at the impression he made on all of us. I hope his family gets to read these posts!

Lorna Till Maxwell
RIP Mr. Lipera

Richard Brescia
I went to School With Dave May he Rest In Peace Dad and Son SAD....🙁

Susan Peña MacCaskey
💔 I remember when his son passed.

LINK TO DAVE LIPERA'S OBITUARY
https://bhsinmemoriam.blogspot.com/2010/06/david-bryan-lipera-bhs-1976.html

Diane Short
He was such a nice man.

Shelley Diks
Oh that’s sad. I remember him well. 😢

Greg Tilston
Pete was a good man ! RIP COACH !

Robert Toffel
He was a good man, sorry to hear of his passing

Tia Diton
Ohhhhhh thanks for letting us all know !

Anita Page
RIP, Coach. Great man; awesome teacher. I'm sure he will be greatly missed.

Vicki Coble
So sad to hear this. I just told my daughter, Erika, his nickname for me was “legs”. It would not go over well in today’s world, but it was just an innocent and funny way of saying “your legs are long and gangly “! No offense meant, no offense taken. Today’s world is so different. Rest In Peace, Coach Pete. 💙
Susan Peña MacCaskey
Vicki Coble - Thanks for sharing, that’s a cute story, we lived in innocent times, sad how things have changed
Vicki Coble
Yes! 😢

Scott Moody
RIP Sir.

Frank Kallem
A great person I loved him like a brother

Dan Jordan
Such a wonderful man. Proud to have been around him from 1972-75 and assisting the football team.

John Downum
Great history teacher. In addition, Coach Lipera was more than willing to help me out as a new teacher.

Bruce Smentek
R.I.P. coach.

Ken Murphy
🙏🏻

Tony Castellanos
He was my football coach. Good man!

Jess Talamantes
May he R.I.P.!

Dorothy Aasen-Delg
My favorite teacher at BHS

Katie Sweeney Hightower
Such sad news. A wonderful teacher and coach♥️RIP coach Lipera.

Sherry Copp
I just signed a card for him two weeks ago. ☹️May he Rest In Peace and his loved ones be comforted. ♥️🙏🏻♥️

Susan Peña MacCaskey
Very Sad News 😢

Pam Kirkwood
He was just going to celebrate his 90th Birthday...Not sure if he got to or not...I am sure we will find out... I am not sure how long ago he passed. I think it was fairly recent. Carole Collins called me and Pete's wife had called her. If his wife plans some kind of a Memorial, I am sure we will hear...

Peggy Beliveau
Very sorry to hear this....

Mary Joan Swartzbaugh
He was such a great guy. Bless him 🙏🙏

Cheryl Forbes Elm
A Favorite-Eastern Civilizations-Fabulous!

Karen Shield Smestad
Sad, he was an icon for Burbank High

Bo Boeing
Besides being a good coach, he was a great European History teacher too! Sad to hear this 😎😢

Jaydean Gordon Dyer
One of the best teachers ever. A favorite of many. Condolences to his family and may he rest in peace.

Harold Maxham
Will miss you Coach.

Julie Guttridge
Awe!! 😢😢 remember him well. He was very well liked !! He lived a good long life . Rest well, coach .

Claudia Hoffman
Mr. Lipera (and coach) was my history teacher. He had me sit up front and thought I might be a smart one in history. He learned that I knew nothing. I was mortified when he called on me to answer his questions. I'll never forget this as all I said was, "I don't know." So sad to hear of his passing - he was admired by everyone.

Susan Montgomery Moran
He was my favorite teacher in BHS. Really the best! Rest in Peace

Cheri Pene
RIP Pete Lipera😇. Thanks for being part of our BHS great memories🙏

Mickey DePalo
Rest In Peace, Sir.

Bob Bauman
My favorite teacher of all time. I mentioned to him a a reunion that he alone was the inspiration for my becoming a teacher. He was humbly appreciative.

Meradith Stire-Santa Cruz
So sad! He’s was a Great Man💔

Kathleen Gaston Hitt
I am truly sorry to hear of Coach Lipera's passing. He was also my behind the wheel driving instructor at Burbank High. I can still hear his voice in my head, with every verbal direction: "when it is safe...."[turn left, right, etc" I still think of that.

Corby Grueter
Great memories of this man as a coach and ....he made me laugh in history class.....😂
RIP Coach.....😌

Linda Silvas
I loved him. 😢

Loanne Walker Ginchereaux
❤️🙏🏻

Christine Cross
The #1 reason I wanted to be a history teacher. Such an Amazing model. BHS ‘65

Susan Montgomery Moran
My favorite teacher. My sympathies to his wife and family.