Lippelman, 38, leaves legacy of volunteering

Carl Lippelman was a man who gave of himself for the betterment of others, especially children. The Springfield attorney known as Detective Dirk to the youth at his north-side church, died May 15. He was 38.

Lippelman was a partner of the law firm Mann, Walter, Bishop & Lippelman PC. In the wake of Lippelman's death, the future of the firm is uncertain.

"We're just not in a position yet to make any such comments because we frankly don't know," said Gary Bishop. "I presume at this point that we will not dissolve and that we will go forward, but that remains to be seen."

Lippelman was an active member and elder at Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 1475 N. Washington Ave.

"We will miss him greatly," said Larry Snow, senior pastor. "Being an elder means the congregation saw in him marks of Christian maturity."

Snow said Lippelman was best known for his youth involvement. He obtained the "Detective Dirk" nickname during lat summer's Vacation Bible School, in which Lippelman took a week away from the law firm in order to work with children, Snow said.

"The kids to this day, they would walk up to him in the hallway and say, Hi, Detective Dirk,'" Snow added. "There is probably nothing finer that we could do in memory of Carl Lippelman than expand what we do for children and youth. That was his passion."

Lippelman also served as the church's legal counsel and co-chaired the church board.

Volunteerism was another passion of Lippelman's and it often involved children.

Most recently Lippelman and his family helped with an adoption fair through the Greene County Division of Family Services.

He and his wife, Kimberley, also co-chaired Caring Hearts, a CoxHealth support group for parents of children with heart defects. Caring Hearts helped the family when 11-year-old daughter Marissa had heart surgery, once when she was 2 days old and again at the age of 2 years.

Lippleman also is survived by two sons, Matthew and Joshua. Lippelman served as Guardian Ad Litem in cases for juvenile court, representing abused or neglected minors.

Lippelman said in a recent SBJ interview, "You could volunteer for things you have no interest in just to be out there and get business. I don't know if that works because I don't do it. I like working with kids, so that's how I volunteer."