Alan Walz Trapper Lippincott, 62, of Annapolis, died of cancer Sunday, September 21, 2008 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
    The son of Stanley Skillful Lippincott and Helen Walz Lippincott, Alan was born on March 4, 1946 into the extended boatbuilding and sailing clan associated with the legendary Lippincott Boat Works of Riverton, N.J. Growing up in and around the boatyard, he worked with his uncles Howard, Marcy, Raymond and Bob and numerous cousins at the Boat Works through his teen years and into adulthood, mastering virtually every facet of sailboat construction. He graduated from Palmyra High School in Palmyra, N.J., and subsequently entered the U.S. Navy in November of 1965. Two of his four years in the service were spent in Vietnam, where he served as a gunner's mate and a member of the Navy's elite Special Forces with a River Assault Group, manning twin 50-caliber machine guns on the bow while carrying out supply and reconnaissance missions along the rivers of South Vietnam alongside elite fighting groups from other countries including New Zealand. After earning an honorable discharge, he settled in Cinnaminson, N.J., and returned to the Boat Works, where he quickly perfected his reputation as a skilled artisan noted for flawless finish work on the sailboats produced at the yard.
     A few years later, he moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where he joined first Lippincott Sailing Yachts for an extended period and later The Yacht Group, working in new and used boat sales, and handling periodic boat deliveries. Crossing the Bay to Annapolis, he joined Boaters' World, from which he retired earlier this year. 
     An accomplished sailor, he began his sailing career as a youngster in Dusters, then competed for more than 40 years in the Star class, taking part in numerous championship events not only in Stars but also in Lightnings, as both skipper and crew. Popular on the Star racing circuit across the U.S., he was known for his sense of humor and ready willingness to offer help, and share information and technique. He also participated racing in the big-boat class, and was sought-after as a valuable senior crew member and tactician by numerous racing skippers.
He was a member of Eastport Yacht Club, the Annapolis Star Fleet, and the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association. 
      He is survived by two brothers, David S. Lippincott of Palm Bay, Florida, and Paul T. Lippincott of Chester, Maryland; one son, John A. Lippincott of Nashville, Tennessee, two stepsons, Charles Zuschnitt of Ocean View, New Jersey, and Michael Zuschnitt of St. Michaels, Maryland; and four grandchildren. His marriage to Parmelee Happy Biggs Lippincott ended in divorce.
     A celebration of his life was held Friday, October 3, 2008 at the Eastport Yacht Club, 317 First Street, Annapolis, Maryland.     from the Burlington County Times - New Jersey