C. Carlisle Tippit, part-owner of Cleveland Indians '72 to '86

06/09/03

Catherine Gabe
Plain Dealer Reporter

Hunting Valley- C. Carlisle Tippit, a prominent Cleveland businessman, philanthropist and a former part-owner of the Cleveland Indians, died Saturday while listening to the radio play-by-play of his beloved team losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"The way I look at it, it was his ninth inning and he died during the ninth inning," his son, Carl Tippit of Bay Village, said. "He just loved baseball."

Tippit, 83, of Hunting Valley, was part-owner of the Indians from 1972 to 1986 and served as board chairman for 18 months.

Known to family and friends as "Tip," he attended the first and last games played at the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Tippit was a lifelong sports enthusiast, a hole-in-one golfer and world traveler.

Friends and family describe his love for donning tacky sports jackets and pants while others dressed in serious colors.

He graduated from Shaker Heights High School in 1938 and Williams College in 1942. He spent three semesters studying weather forecasting at MIT. He opened the first Allied weather station on the European Continent on D-Day plus 1.

He served in England, France and Belgium, reaching the rank of captain.

After World War II, Tippit worked for a decade in various departments at Reliance Electric & Engineering Co. In 1956, he bought his own company, Mogul Corp., which sold wa ter treatment chemicals. Over the years, Tippit's busi ness diversi fied into med ical research with opera tions in several countries. His company merged with Dexter Corp. in 1978.

Tippit served on boards of Midwest Bank, White Motor Co., Midland-Ross Co., the Dexter Corp. and Ohio Sound & Music. He also was a trustee for the Cleveland Clinic and University School.

Tippit and sports marketing pioneer Mark McCormack were part-owners of Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla.

Tippit and his wife of 51 years, Margaret, traveled to 190 countries pursuing golf and exploration.

But Tippit's favorite avocation remained listening to or watching baseball. Even on the links, Tippit listened to the ball game, making his golf buddies pause for the player at bat to finish first.

"Rain or shine, the Indians could lose 100 games a year and he would listen to them," his son said.

"He always said it was the little things in baseball that could change the outcome of the game and he enjoyed looking for them."

Tippit had the opportunity to invest in either the Browns or the Indians, his wife recalled.

"The Browns, financially, would have been a much better choice, but his heart was in baseball," she said.

"It was a very poor financial decision. But he didn't really care."

Overall, Tippit's business acumen made him a savvy investor who provided great insights for others in the Forest City Investment Club, said friend and golf partner Lew McCreary of Cleveland.

Tippit shared his wealth with others, giving to various local and national educational institutions.

In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by daughters, Susan Rafter of Gilroy, Calif.; Christine of Aurora; Nancy Navatsyk of Chardon; Virginia McCall of Moreland Hills; 18 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Fairmount Presbyterian Church, 2757 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights.

Memorial gifts may be given to: Fairmount Presbyterian Church. Planned Parenthood of Cleveland, 3500 Lorain Ave., No. 400, Cleveland 44113 or to a charity of your choice.