Longtime Teacher, Activist Gary Lipton Dies of Cancer at 71

Gary Lipton, a San Fernando Valley high school teacher and activist who waged several unsuccessful campaigns for political office during the 1970s and 1980s, has died at a hospital here. He was 71.

A longtime North Hollywood resident, Lipton died Tuesday of cancer, said his wife of 49 years, Millicent.

In 1985, Lipton retired from John H. Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley after a long tenure as a social studies teacher and guidance counselor.

He began his teaching career in the New York public school system in 1945, following a stint as a combat navigator in World War II for which he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Lipton continued teaching after moving to California in 1954, eventually ending up at Polytechnic, where he spent the remainder of his career.

“He wanted to instill values of justice and the need for peace and caring about other people in his students,” his wife said Friday.

Active in Democratic politics throughout his life, Lipton mounted unsuccessful campaigns for the state Assembly, the Los Angeles community college board and the Los Angeles school board, although his wife said he was never discouraged by his losses.

“I have the feeling that no one on the school board is addressing the problem of low teacher morale,” he told The Times during his 1985 school board campaign. “They are not looking at the poor communication between teachers and administrators.”

Born in New York City, Lipton received a bachelor’s degree from City College of New York in 1943. In 1947, he received a master’s degree from Columbia University.

In addition to his wife, Lipton is survived by son, Kenneth, of Sherman Oaks; and two granddaughters.

A memorial service will be held Sunday at 11 a.m. at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Chapel, 5950 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a scholarship fund in Lipton’s name at Polytechnic High or to the American Cancer Society.