Playground initiative to honor Susan Lipton

Kyle O’Leary speaks of her dear friend Susan Lipton with deep admiration. The two women met while working at the Hansen School, O’Leary as a teacher and Lipton as the school system’s physical therapist. Their friendship continued when they moved to the Luce School and finally to the Early Childhood Center at the Marilyn Rodman building.

Susan Lipton with her grandson Brady Lipton

“She’s been a mentor to me,” O’Leary said of Lipton. “She’s just amazing. She’s a great colleague and a very dedicated physical therapist.” O’Leary talks about Lipton as though they were still working side by side. Sadly, Lipton was diagnosed with kidney cancer in May of 2012. She passed away on November 23, 2012.

To honor Lipton’s memory and dedication to her students, a group of friends, family and colleagues have created the Susan Lipton Memorial Committee. They are hoping to raise $20,000 in donations to fund the purchase of three new structures for the playground behind the Rodman building. If enough money is raised, one of the existing structures may be expanded. The committee also plans to erect a sign, install a bench, and create a memorial garden. The Canton School Committee has approved naming the garden after Lipton.

Lipton began her career in the Canton Public Schools 24 years ago. She traveled from school to school, transporting her motor equipment in her car as she met with the students she called her “cookies.” When the Luce School planned an addition to the building, a physical therapy room was included in the design. In 2006, the Early Childhood Program was moved to the Rodman building. A large space was designated as the “motor” room, which would allow young children to have playground experiences all during the school year. Lipton believed that play and movement were necessary for child development.

“She worked at all the schools,” O’Leary said. “She was a beautiful person, inside and out. She was very dedicated to family, a very loyal, committed person. She was fun. She was someone you could go to and talk to about anything.”

Fundraisers for the playground expansion are being planned for the fall. The committee is asking for volunteers who can help landscape the area for the memorial garden, select plants and flowers, and erect the memorial sign. They are reaching out to local businesses and corporations who may be able to donate at least $250 toward the bench or sign.

O’Leary called Lipton’s absence a deep hole that she feels every day. “We want to keep her memory alive,” she said. “As a physical therapist, Susan dedicated her life to improving children’s gross motor skills. She also really believed that one of the best ways to do this was through play. Therefore, opportunities on the playground to promote play and develop motor skills was her ultimate goal.”

The committee is planning to dedicate the playground in the spring of 2014. The playground is open to the preschool program students Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is open to the community during afternoons and weekends.

In addition to O’Leary, the members of the committee are Lipton’s son, Daniel Lipton, daughters Alexandra Lipton and Samantha Lipton Myerson, who teaches first grade at the Kennedy School; her friend Lisa Fireman; Debra Bromfield, Canton Public Schools’ director of student services; Amy Delaney, early childhood occupational therapist; Kerry Emde, early childhood teacher; Kelty Kelley, early childhood coordinator; Janeen Nemes, friend and former occupational therapist for the Canton Public Schools; and Patricia Parks, early childhood speech and language pathologist.

Checks should be made payable to The Susan Lipton Memorial Fund and sent to The Susan Lipton Memorial Fund, c/o Eastern Bank, 39 Washington Street, Canton, MA 02021. Donations are also being accepted through Paypal by going to cantonma.org.

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Posted by Mary Ann Price on Jul 3 2013. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.