Retiree Dick Shippy dies at 83

Indiana native wrote in sports, arts sections during 35-year career

By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer

Former Beacon Journal reporter Richard W. ''Dick'' Shippy died Monday afternoon after a long illness. He was 83.

Mr. Shippy, who worked at the Beacon Journal for 35 years, died at Akron City Hospital.

He was best-known as a longtime movie, drama and television critic at the newspaper. He also worked for the Beacon Journal Sunday magazine and spent both his early and final years at the Beacon as a sports writer.

''Dick was a very outspoken guy who always let you know where you stood with him,'' said longtime friend Abe Zaidan, also a former Beacon Journal newsroom employee. ''He worked hard and was a very good writer. They got their money's worth from him.''

Mr. Shippy was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., on May 7, 1927. He went to high school in Marion, Ind., and graduated in 21/2 years, as a National Merit Scholar.

After serving in the U.S. Army and being stationed in Italy in the 1940s, he enrolled at Northwestern University in 1947 and graduated in 1951.

He worked at three smaller newspapers before joining the Beacon Journal in 1956.

From 1980 until retiring in 1991, he wrote about the Cleveland Force indoor soccer team, local and professional golf, Notre Dame football, and boxing, among other assignments.

Both during his working days and in retirement, Mr. Shippy was an avid baseball fan, especially of the Boston Red Sox and their hall of fame outfielder, Ted Williams.

Mr. Shippy was an athlete himself, playing basketball, football and baseball at various levels.

Calling hours and funeral information will be announced later.

[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Tuesday, December 7, 2010, page B4, col. 1] ]