Ralph Vincent Collipi, Sr.

Ralph Vincent Collipi, Sr. – Salem, NH

On March 9, 2021 Ralph Vincent Collipi, Sr. passed away peacefully at home with his wife and children by his side.  He was born on July 20, 1932 to Angelo Anthony Collipi, of Lawrence, MA and Hilmar Rose (Ecklund) Collipi of Lowell, MA.   He is survived by his wife of 69 years Joan Marie (Menale) Collipi, his son Ralph Vincent Collipi, Jr. of Londonderry NH, his daughter Maureen Ann (Collipi) Anderson of Salem, NH.  He was predeceased by his sister Helen (Collipi) Murphy of FL, and brother-in-law Anthony Menale of Methuen, MA. He leaves three grandchildren Joel Anderson of Salem, NH, Nikki Cruikshank of Newbury, MA and Kris Collipi of Derry, NH.   He also leaves three great grandchildren, Maya Anderson of Salem, NH, and Lily Owen Cruikshank of Newbury, MA.

Mr. Collipi was an Army veteran who served in the Korean War.  Ralph and Joan retired from Western Electric and AT&T Technologies, Inc in 1989 and embarked on a full-time career of round dance and ballroom dance teaching that took them around the world.  They composed dance routines taught to thousands of students in their 40-year career.  Ralph and Joan served as directors on national dance organizations and their participation helped to shape what is in place today.  Ralph worked very hard to became one of the premier round dance cuers in the world and was highly sought out for festivals and weekends.

Here are a few of the awards they were honored to receive:

New England 2002 Yankee Clipper Award
Maestro Award and Silver Circle Award from Roundalab
Golden Torch International Award from ICBDA
Mickey Moore Dixie Round Dance Council
Nation Hall of Fame housed in Albuquerque, NM
New England Hall of Fame housed in UNH

In 1992, Ralph and Joan together with Carmen and Mildred Smarrelli formed a Leaders College that over the years graduated 230 Teachers nationally and internationally.

One of our favorite accomplishments was partnering with the Boys and Girls Club for an original projects contest, which we titled “Dancing with the Golden Stars”. We coupled Seniors from the NH Senior Center with Salem High School Seniors and in 10 weeks of dance instruction taught Cha routines to 15 couples.  The event was taped and won the Northeast Division and went onto to a banquet in the Midwest and won Nationally.

Ralph will be greatly missed by his family, his dance family and his many friends.  Thank you all for sharing your time and life with the best man I have ever known.  God Bless Him.

There are no calling hours or funeral services scheduled for Mr. Collipi and the burial with U.S. Army Military Honors will be private.  Goundrey & Dewhirst Funeral Home, 42 Main Street, Salem, NH 03820 is entrusted with the arrangements.  Please visit www.goundreydewhirstfuneral.com to sign the online guest book.

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