Dr. Daniel Lipke

Dr. Daniel P. Lipke, died peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, October 1, 2007 after a brief illness at the Fletcher Allen Medical Center in Burlington, VT. He was 72. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Dan had successful practices in orthodontics both in Grand Rapids, MI and Montreal, Canada. A graduate of Marquette and Northwestern Universities, he was the first dentist to be awarded a US Public Health Service Grant to do research in the field of facial physiology in Sweden. Dan taught at the School of Medicine at the University of Connecticut in Farmington and at the Faculty of Dentistry of McGill University in Montreal. He was an avid golfer, voracious reader and gifted cook and connoisseur of fine food. He was passionate about music and art, and loved to travel. He is survived by his loving wife, Svetlana Elnitsky; and her son, Serge; and his wife, Cornelia; three daughters, Kerstin Ann Lipke, Lisbeth Mai Lipke and Tanya Lipke; a granddaughter, Hannah Lipke. He was predeceased by his son, John William Lipke. He also leaves two brothers, Bill Lipke, and Jim Lipke and his wife, Katherine; a sister, Molly Lipke Landi and her husband, Mike. He is also survived by four nieces, Gretchen, Megan, Martha and Ann; a nephew, Dan, and their families. The family is grateful to the dedicated and compassionate staff of the Fletcher Allen Medical Center, especially those at the Medical/Cardiac Intensive Care Unit on McClure 4. We also wish to thank the friends who, in many ways, expressed acts of loving kindness to Dan and Svet during his time of illness. A private memorial service for the family will be held next summer on the shores of northern Lake Michigan. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make contributions in Dan's name to the Palliative Care Service at Fletcher Allen Medical Center in Burlington, VT.