Obituary for Royce N. Flippin Jr.
Royce N. Flippin Jr. passed away at age 87 from natural causes on Saturday, July 31, in his home in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Along with his wife, Louise, Royce was an enthusiastic member of Holy Trinity Episcopal for many years until his recent decline in health, immersing himself in church activities and taking special pleasure in delivering communion to homebound church members.
Born and raised in Montclair, NJ, Royce gained fame early in life as one of the great natural athletes of the 1950s. He earned a varsity letter in four sports — football, basketball, baseball and track — in his sophomore, junior and senior years at sports powerhouse Montclair High School, and in his senior year he was named New Jersey’s outstanding high school athlete. His achievements later earned him admission into New Jersey’s High School Athletics Hall of Fame.
Royce went on to become one of Princeton University’s all-time greatest athletes and a natural student leader. Playing the tailback position in coach Charlie Caldwell’s legendary single-wing offense, in which he had the option to run, pass or receive passes, Royce ranked 11th in the nation for total offense his sophomore year, and was named to the All-Ivy and All-East teams as a junior despite missing several games with an injury. While limited by a pre-season knee injury his senior year, he captained the team to an Ivy League title. In one of the most memorable moments of his stellar football career, he came off the bench late in the season to score the opening touchdown against Yale in a 13-0 victory that clinched the Tigers’ championship. He also played varsity baseball at Princeton and at graduation was awarded Princeton’s Poe Cup, presented annually to an outstanding athlete who also exhibits great moral character.
After college, Royce served in the Marines, then worked for Standard Oil before attending Harvard Business School. After a stint at General Foods, he became an investment banker with Smith, Barney. He leveraged that experience to team with Smith, Barney colleague Tom Delaney to start First Spectrum, the nation’s first-ever corporate-responsibility mutual fund. While First Spectrum failed to gain traction in the recessionary environment of the early 1970s, the flag of socially responsible investing they planted has since been taken up by financial institutions and corporations around the world.
In 1973, Royce’s alma mater Princeton tapped him to become athletic director, a position in which he championed the advancement of women’s sports at the University. After presiding over six years of Ivy League-leading winning percentages, Royce went on to become athletic director for 12 years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He took particular pleasure in MIT’s extensive intramural sports program, which epitomized his strongly held belief that sports offers every individual a chance to excel and experience personal growth, whatever the level of competition. He also served on the boards of numerous companies, including Ariel Investments, one of the nation’s largest minority-owned investment firms, and TerraCycle, Inc., a company that is spearheading a revolutionary approach to recycling and sustainable waste management. He played a key role in the launches of other enterprises as well, including Lightbridge Corporation and New Reality Solutions.
As impressive as his professional resume is, however, it does not begin to describe the full scope of Royce’s life, which was expressed most deeply in the profound personal and professional impact he had on countless individuals over the years. Royce always stood poised, ready and able to give a helping hand to any and every person he met, regardless of their age or background—and he invariably went out of his way to do so. The stories of those he assisted along their life paths are legion, from young adults seeking admission to college or needing guidance on their early careers, to the many peers for whom he provided insightful advice or a well-aimed introduction or recommendation. Drawing on his vast experience in sports and business, Royce treasured the ideal of a tight-knit team working together to achieve success—a fact that his former teammates can attest to—and he loved bonding with and lifting up his colleagues wherever he encountered them.
Most of all, Royce was devoted to his family, including his soulmate and wife of 65 years, Louise Ferdon Flippin, who he met in the fifth grade and who survives him; his late daughter Diane Nole; his sons Royce 3rd and Robert; his six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; his four siblings, Carol Colavita, his late sister Molly Baker, John Flippin and Doreen Cleerden and their families; and his Ferdon in-laws and their extended families. Royce continued to embrace athletics throughout his life, excelling at tennis and enjoying downhill skiing with his family. He also remained dedicated to all things related to Princeton University, including its athletic program, his Class of 1956 classmates, and the Cap & Gown eating club. Royce’s caring, his energy and optimism, and his willingness always to go the extra mile for others, have left an indelible mark on all who knew him. He was a remarkable and beloved person, and he will be greatly missed.
The Memorial Service for Royce N. Flippin, Jr., will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Cap & Gown Club, 61 Prospect Avenue in Princeton. The Rector will preside at the service from the Book of Common Prayer. The family asks attendees to register by email: son Royce III royceflippin@hotmail.com or son Robert robert.flippin@cbre.com Anyone who wishes to offer a memory or tribute may also express their interest with the family.
In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be made in Royce’s memory to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 90 Leonardine Ave., South River NJ 08882.