George B. von der Lippe, Ph.D., professor of
German in the modern languages and literature department, died Monday,
Nov. 2, after a lengthy illness. He was 61.
Born in Newton, Mass., Professor von der Lippe started teaching at Saint Anselm
in 1982, after receiving a bachelor’s degree in sociology from
Wesleyan University and his master’s and doctorate degrees in German
language and literature from Brown University. His scholarship
involved groundbreaking literary detective work comparing Edgar Allan
Poe and E.T.A. Hoffman.
At Saint Anselm, in addition to teaching all levels of German, he
taught courses in humanities, business German, composition and
conversation, and German civilization and culture. He chaired the
modern languages and literature department for a number of years and
directed the German certificate program.
An avid boxing fan, Professor von der Lippe translated and edited
Germany’s best-selling book, Max Schmeling: an autobiography, for an
English audience. He came across the autobiography while in Heidelberg
and translated it so fans could learn more about the legendary
heavyweight boxer.
He also specialized in German reformation, romanticism, and the
Weimar Republic-Third Reich, writing about Martin Luther’s influence on
German culture and literature through the 20th century in The Figure of
Martin Luther in Twentieth-Century German Literature, the Metamorphosis
of a National Symbol. He also translated and edited an important World
War II novel critical of the Nazi regime.
Professor von der Lippe’s involvement at Saint Anselm went beyond
scholarship and the classroom. He volunteered for senior week, freshman
orientation and faculty committees. He organized the German Table,
advised the German Club, and counseled students interested in studying
in Germany as part of study abroad.
Elizabeth Fouts, associate professor of Spanish in modern languages
and literature, remembers Professor von der Lippe’s intense dedication
to scholarship, teaching and the college.
“He was an incredibly smart academic who had a wide variety of
scholarly interests, and he was passionate about whatever project he
was working on, whether it was Max Schmeling, the Anabaptists or the
final year report for the department,” she said.
His devotion to an effort could be so complete that he would sleep
in his office, she said. When his work was done, however, he would
emerge full of interest in his friends, seeking updates on them and
their families.
His family includes a son, Christopher C. von der Lippe of
Manchester; his mother, Inez (Buckingham) Lawrence of Goffstown; and
his former wife, Angela von der Lippe of New York, NY.
Calling hours will be held Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 4 to 7 p.m. at
Lambert Funeral Home, 1799 Elm St., Manchester. The funeral service
will be held Thursday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m. at the St. Anselm Abbey
Church on the campus of St. Anselm College. Burial will follow in
Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley, Mass.
Donations may be made to Elliot Hospital Fitch Unit, Attn: Sharon Kostansek, 1 Elliot Way, Manchester, NH 03103.