Photo By Julius Evans | Chris Cullen presents JoAnn Lipella with her 37-year plaque created by her co-workers...... read more read more
FREDERICK, Md. - When an employee retires and her co-workers fill the room, that says something about how much that retiree is admired. And during her speech, when a quarter of the room starts crying along with the honoree, one might consider that honoree as well cherished. Such was the case when JoAnn Lipella retired after 37 years of Federal civil service Jan. 22 at the ceremony held in her honor at Naval Medical Logistics Command on Fort Detrick.
Wet eyes were disbursed throughout the room when Lipella reminisced about her 29 years at NMLC. It was very telling by the sheer number of those who filled the conference room; a location that usually has enough seats to host the entire command.
Though several speeches were given in honor of her service and contributions to the command, and recognizing her personal touch and influence, it wasn’t until Lipella took the podium when the flood gates of tears began to flow.
“I started here when my son was three months old. Sending him off to daycare was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but now I leave today with an awesome government retirement that I’m proud of,” Lipella said. “When he graduated from college/law school and passed the bar becoming a lawyer last year, it was one of the proudest moments of my life. Many of you here shared in those proud moments with me.”
Speaking of young men, Chris Cullen, Lipella's supervisor told the story of how she nurtured him when he first came aboard.
“Joann taught me how to be a government employee, she was my mentor,” he said, speaking of when he reported to NMLC 14 years ago. “We have had so many great experiences together throughout the years and she is such a wonderful person and human being, she will be sorely missed by everyone who knows her.”
Another of Lipella's supervisors shared words about her and how her influence on him over the years still has an impact today.
“Joann has never said an unkind word about anyone. There may have been times when she has gotten upset or frustrated about something but you would never have known it.” Art Cronk said. “She is one of the kindest employees I have worked with.”
It was also very telling what several United States Presidents had to say regarding Lipella’s service. Having served under six presidents, the letters received by today’s service were from President James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr., and George H. W. Bush. In fact, President Bush wrote, “Barbara and I are checking in to offer our personal congratulations on your retirement following an illustrious career of Federal service that spans 37 years. Well Done!”
Before she departed, she wanted to share a well done to a few people as well.
“I want to thank my husband - my best friend, for always believing in me and trying to push me when I just wanted to sit still in my comfort zone,” Lipella said. “To my sister, thank you for being my guiding light through all my ups and downs. To my brother-in-law, you have been a wonderful friend and husband to my sister. I can’t say enough good about you.”
She also shared a few direct thoughts about the people she has spent the majority of her working life with here at NMLC.
“I was privileged to be part of several amazing teams; which achieved success that we can all be proud of. It’s rare to find a group of people, let alone an organization, as passionate and dedicated in doing the right thing for our shipmates,” Lipella continued.
“I want to thank Chris Cullen and the Acquisition Support Division for their patience and help this year. I also want to personally thank everyone who contributed to making this luncheon possible. All of you have been my second family and you have supported my career and my personal life. You listened to many stories about my son and you cared when I talked about my mom. My mom would be so proud of this moment. Mom I did it,” she said.
Lipella’s longest serving supervisor, Randy Routzahn, was her boss the entire time she worked in finance at NMLC from 1986-2013. He reminisced about when they first started working together.
“We worked in another building on Fort Detrick and when we moved to a new location, we had to paint it ourselves. Well, JoAnn wasn’t much of a painter,” he quipped. “I remember she accidentally painted through something our officer in charge had just painted. Then she ended up spilling a whole can of paint over our commander/comptroller’s shoes. I don’t think she got an award that year.”
Lipella has more than made up for that time and has received countless awards. Now, she is prepared to leave the Department of the Navy to spend time in the sunshine of Fort Lauderdale.
“I am looking forward to visiting my son and spending a little time on the beach, and in my favorite chair,” she said.
After 37 years at Fort Detrick and 29 years at the Naval Medical Logistics Command, Lipella has enjoyed Maryland's four seasons and will now have a chance to experience all the sunshine she can handle.
Naval Medical Logistics Command delivers patient-centered logistics solutions for military medicine. It is the Department of Defense’s premier medical logistics support activity.
| Date Taken: | 01.22.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.23.2015 15:46 |
| Story ID: | 152606 |
| Location: | FREDERICK, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 354 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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