Legendary Coach Dick Triptow Passes Away at Age 92

Legendary Coach Dick Triptow Passes Away at Age 92

Dick Triptow, who coached four different sports during his 14 years as a member of the Lake Forest College Athletic Department, passed away over the weekend in Lake Forest after a brief battle with pneumonia. He was 92 years old.

Triptow has remained a favorite of many Forester alumni after coaching the basketball (1959-73), baseball (1959-66), soccer (1963-72), and golf (1967-70) teams during his time at the College. He was inducted into the Lake Forest College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000 and remained a close friend of the Forester Athletic Department, occasionally attending home contests and other alumni-related events.

Triptow was a 1944 graduate of DePaul University, where he was an All-American basketball player and co-captain of the 1944 team with George Mikan. He went on to play professional basketball for six years and spent three seasons playing minor league baseball in the Chicago Cubs system. Triptow also taught and coached basketball at the high school level for nine years prior to coming to Lake Forest.

In addition to the Forester Athletic Hall of Fame, Triptow was also inducted into the DePaul University Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977, the Chicago Catholic League Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1986, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1989, and the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

"As everyone who came in contact with Coach Triptow knew, he was a deeply dedicated coach, a remarkable author, a beloved community member, and loyal friend of the College," began Lake Forest College Director of Athletics Jackie Slaats. "He will be missed sorely by me and many in the Forester family."

A memorial service will be held at the Gorton Community Center on Saturday, March 7, at 2:00 p.m. Triptow is survived by his wife of 68 years, Helen, and their daughters Donna and Janice.

Chicago Tribune Obituary