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2014 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 222
Celebrating the life of Michael Joseph Ripp.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 31, 2014
Agreed to by the Senate, February 6, 2014

 

WHEREAS, Michael Joseph Ripp of Richmond, a successful restaurateur whose optimism, generosity, and sunny personality made him a friend to many people, died on November 23, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Michael Ripp was involved with several notable Richmond-area restaurants throughout his culinary career; visitors and residents alike have enjoyed meals at his eateries, which include Havana ’59, the City Bar & Rotisserie, and his most recent venture, New Zealand-themed Burger Bach; and

WHEREAS, Michael Ripp, a visionary thinker, often said that his goal was to improve the quality of Richmond-area restaurants, and over the years he established high culinary standards at the companies he owned and for the local restaurant industry in general; and

WHEREAS, Michael Ripp came from a family of restaurant owners; he began his life’s work at age 12 when he started working at the Abbey restaurant where he assumed many responsibilities at the North Side restaurant—dishwasher, line cook, and chef; and

WHEREAS, Michael Ripp also was involved with the reincarnated O’Brienstein’s Bar and Delicatessen in Shockoe Bottom, Chico’s Mansion, and Wildcats, making a name for himself by presenting a variety of cuisines in diverse venues; and

WHEREAS, Michael Ripp watched the Richmond area grow and opportunities emerge for innovative chefs and business managers to establish leading-edge restaurants; he freely shared his experience and skill, expecting nothing in return; and

WHEREAS, in working to make Richmond a better place to live, work, and visit, Michael Ripp gladly shared his ideas, photographs, and architectural drawings with city officials and developers, offering suggestions gleaned from his travels to other cities and countries; and

WHEREAS, Michael Ripp had many ideas for enhancing the downtown area, Shockoe Bottom, the area along the James River, the 17th Street Farmers’ Market, The Diamond, and the Greater Richmond Transit Company bus depot; and

WHEREAS, Michael Ripp gladly followed his passion to change the status quo, often going against conventional ways of thinking, all in the hopes of producing positive change; and

WHEREAS, it was Michael Ripp’s interest in those with whom he came in contact that made him a special person; he offered advice and encouragement freely, coupled with compassion and empathy, all qualities that inspired his family, friends, and colleagues to strive to achieve their best; and

WHEREAS, Michael Ripp’s zest for life extended beyond the confines of kitchens and dining rooms; he never met a stranger, and he enjoyed travel, a good book, the exchange of ideas, and stimulating discussions; and

WHEREAS, Michael Ripp will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Angela; his son, Harrison; his parents, Richard and Nancy; and many other family members, friends, and connoisseurs of good food; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Michael Joseph Ripp, a pioneering restaurateur whose goal was to search out and encourage the best—in people and in business; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Michael Joseph Ripp as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.