Longtime Richland activist dead at age 87

One of the Tri-Cities’ beloved, opinionated and cantankerous characters has died at the age of 87.

Laurel Piippo, a longtime Richland resident, died of natural causes Aug. 26 at Hawthorne Court in Kennewick, just weeks shy of her birthday, according to the Neptune Society of Spokane.

She didn’t want a big fuss made about her death. She asked her family not to run an obituary or plan a funeral, according to her friends.

And she held her own pre-funeral event, her “awake wake,” in 2012 just before her 85th birthday, with hundreds of friends and family traveling from across the U.S. to attend.

In her own words, she was a “world traveler, mother, grandmother, teacher, travel agent, three-time cancer survivor, perennial student of life and humanity.”

She retired in 1982 as an English teacher from Kennewick High School after 20 years and taught in various other places in the decades before that. And it’s clear the influence she had on many young lives from those days, judging by the number of people who sought her out over the years, said her longtime friend Martha Swedlund of Richland.

The feisty Piippo took it upon herself over the years to proofread the Tri-City Herald, make corrections and send them to the editor and publisher, according to a Herald editorial from 2012. She also was a relentless letter to the editor writer.

“She was very civic-minded, and that’s partly where she got inspiration for letters to the editor. I was with her a number of times when strangers would say, ‘Oh, you’re Laurel Piippo? I love your letters to editor.’ She had a big influence that way,” Swedlund said.

Piippo started the 500 Club in 2012, challenging her friends to donate $500 for a future performing arts center.

“She was so concerned with the future of the performing arts center. That’s one big place that’s had her heart. She could get so furious about things, but she’s very, very sensitive and generous,” Swedlund said.

Allison Stormo, of Troy, Idaho, used to live down the street from Piippo in Richland, and their friendship quickly grew into something more.

“Laurel quickly filled the role of grandmother for me, except with a mischievous twist. We spent many hours sipping wine while gossiping and talking through life’s hurdles. She was no stranger to giving me pointed advice, yet just as eagerly celebrated with me as I discovered marriage and motherhood. I am a better person for having had her in my inner circle,” Stormo said.

Leona Hassing of Pasco knew Piippo for about 20 years. Both are members of the Benton County Democrats and Richland Kiwanis Club.

“She was a wonderful person. She was one of a kind. She was eccentric. She fought for her beliefs. She worked hard for the good of humanity,” Hassing said.

Grandson Scott Piippo of Pasco said she influenced many people over the years.

“I think it would be hard to find somebody who has had a greater impact on our community from the time they arrived here in early 1950s until last Thursday. Her and my grandpa kind of excelled in their fields at a level that few people achieve, especially young people as a teachers,” said Scott Piippo, who teaches at Richland High.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Toivo, who was instrumental in developing the basketball skills of many players in the 30 years he coached at Chief Joseph Middle School in Richland. She is survived by two sons, Steve and Robert, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

This story was originally published September 1, 2015 at 7:42 PM with the headline "Longtime Richland activist dead at age 87."