Fred R. Tripp, 71, Insurance Company CEO

Fred R. Tripp of Vero Beach, Fla. and Barrington, passed away suddenly on Jan.15, 2014 in Vero Beach. He was 71.

He was the loving husband of Nancy (Materne) Tripp for 44 years. Born in New Bedford, Mass. on December 31, 1942, he was the son of the late Fred and Marion (Roos) Tripp.

He graduated from Dartmouth High School, in Dartmouth, Mass., and New Hampton School in New Hampton, NH. He received a BA from the University of Vermont in 1965 and following college entered the insurance industry and the Coast Guard Reserve.

He joined the insurance brokerage firm, Starkweather and Shepley in 1968 and had a 43-year career working there. In 1998 he was appointed president and CEO until his retirement in 2008. He was a Board Member of Assurex Global and The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers.

He was also active in the community and was a past board member of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Business Education Roundtable, Providence Country Day School, Greater Providence Chapter American Red Cross, Rhode Island Country Club and past president of The University Club in Providence. He was a parishioner of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Barrington.

He is survived by his sister, Mary Elizabeth Braun and her husband Kenneth of Gainesville, Fla. He leaves a son, Peter E. Tripp of Chatham, NJ and his wife Melissa and a daughter, Sara E. Boye of Devon, Pa. and her husband Gregory. He was the proud grandfather of five grandchildren: Matthew, Alex, Julia, Evan and Owen.

Visiting hours will be on Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 4:30 – 7:00 pm at the Smith Mason Funeral Home, 398 Willet Ave., Riverside, RI. A funeral service will be held Thursday, Jan. 23, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 191 County Rd., Barrington, at 11:30 am. The burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The American Heart Association or The Barrington Land Conservation Trust, PO Box 324, Barrington, RI 02806.