In the theater of life, Dick Kipp is producer, director, choreographer and, oh yes, entertainer. As a native New Yorker he fondly remembers his older sister taking him to see Broadway shows, performing in school plays, singing, doing stand-up comedy and being Master of Ceremonies at college events. Humor plays a leading role in Kipp’s life.

“Comedy certainly lightens things up,” Kipp said. “With all of the uncertainty in life I find it tempers the often-outrageous, dramatic events that happen.”

Professionally, Kipp was able to parlay his comedic wit along with his interest in others into sales positions as a furniture and carpet buyer at the Bon Marche. Always an avid researcher and interested in medicine, Kipp later worked in pharmaceutical sales nearly 30 years with Merck &Co.

“I let physicians know the advantages and side effects of different medications,” Kipp said. “I appreciated the opportunity to interact with doctors and, hopefully, positively impact people’s lives with advantageous medicines.”

Kipp and his wife were raising seven children when life took an unexpected turn and he became a single father to the youngest five. While he remembers parenting as “super-hard work,” Kipp also found it rewarding and amusing. Cooking became a new adventure. After business trips to New Orleans, Kipp became enamored with repeatedly making blackened redfish and bananas Foster.

“The kids finally said, ‘Can we just have pizza and ice cream?’ so I scaled back a bit but also added new dishes, too,” Kipp said.

Now married to Nora for more than 10 years, the two find much joy in their combined nine adult children and 15 grandchildren.

At Village Green, Kipp is president of the Resident Council and appreciates hearing everyone’s different life story.

“Each person here has been through both good and challenging times,” Kipp said. “They are my heroes.”

Reading, early morning treadmill walks and Zumba three times a week are all part of Kipp’s plan to stay sharp. He’s also busy organizing the upcoming Village Green Talent Show by cajoling residents to perform and developing a male chorus to lip sync a song from South Pacific.

“It’s great fun,” Kipp said. “My philosophy is stay involved, keep moving, keep learning and keep laughing!”