Alfred J. Lipin, politician
He served in House of Delegates and state Senate

By Frederick N. Rasmussen, The Baltimore Sun

6:21 PM EDT, April 17, 2012
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Alfred J. Lipin, a former Anne Arundel County hardware store owner turned Democratic politician who served in both the House of Delegates and state Senate, died Friday of a heart attack at Hanover Hospital in Hanover, Pa.

The lifelong Glen Burnie resident was 92.

He was born and raised in Pasadena at Lipin's Corner, where his parents owned and operated a combination grocery store and gas station.

After graduating from Glen Burnie High School in 1938, he attended the University of Baltimore for three years.

He enlisted in the Army in 1942 and served with an infantry unit in Europe, including participation in the Normandy campaign. He attained the rank of lieutenant and his decorations included the Silver Star.

Mr. Lipin served with the Maryland National Guard, and the drill hall at the Glen Burnie Armory was named for him. He was a member of American Legion Post 40 and VFW Post 160.

After the war, he established Lipin's Hardware in Glen Burnie and later expanded the business to include a store in Severna Park. He also worked as a real estate agent.

Mr. Lipin was elected in 1966 to the House of Delegates, where he served until 1970. Due to his political career, he sold his hardware business in the late 1960s.

He was then elected in 1971 to the Maryland Senate, where he served until 1977. He was secretary of the state Department of Licensing and Regulation from 1977 to 1979.

Mr. Lipin's civic interests included organizing and serving as president of the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce and founding the Sawmill Creek Watershed Association.

He was also a past president of the Glen Burnie Improvement Association and had been president of the Civitan Club.

"Public life was his life," said his son, Jack Lipin of St. Charles, Mo.

Mr. Lipin enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren, said his son.

He was a communicant of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, 7437 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Glen Burnie, where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Also surviving are his wife of 68 years, the former Irene Hein; three daughters, Mary Wilcox of Glen Burnie, Nancy Crawford of Annapolis and Lauri Lipin-Raleigh of Hanover, Pa.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

fred.rasmussen@baltsun.com

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