Obituary of Attorney Peter M. Sipples

Attorney Peter M. Sipples, beloved husband of Patricia Farrell, passed away peacefully on May 4, 2024. The son of Maurice and Atholine (Brozek) Sipples, Peter was born on August 9, 1942. He spent his childhood in Moodus, a community he cherished. It was there that Peter would kick a ball up and down hills, marking the start of his remarkable athletic career. Peter was a star player on his Nathan Hale-Ray high school soccer team. The team’s amazing season of never being scored upon inspired the documentary “The Zero Boys” which highlighted their success and what it meant to the Moodus community. 

Peter’s high school athletic and academic achievements gained the attention of Wesleyan University, and he was recruited for their freshman class. At Wesleyan, Peter was an outstanding athlete on the baseball and soccer teams. His baseball accomplishments included leading his teams to Little Three titles in his junior and senior years, and incredibly, in his senior year, he struck out only once in 66 at-bats. Named to the All-New England soccer team, Peter also set a personal school record. Upon graduation, Peter taught English and coached baseball and soccer at Xavier High School and coached the University of Hartford men’s soccer team.

Among his numerous athletic awards, Peter was inducted into the East Haddam Hall of Fame, the Wesleyan Baseball Wall of Fame, and the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame, serving as a director until his death. In 2000 the Hartford Courant named Peter the outstanding athlete of the century from Moodus/East Haddam. 

In 1975 Peter began the next chapter of his life, graduating from Stetson University Law School where he once again excelled academically. During his 43-year legal career he was recognized as an outstanding land use attorney and served for 38 years as the attorney for the Essex Zoning Commission.

In 1991 Peter married Patricia Farrell and moved to Middletown. They practiced law together until their retirements. Throughout their marriage, they loved vacationing in Newport, RI and Naples, FL and performing together with the community theater group, The Vintage Players. Peter enjoyed a well-written novel, a challenging crossword puzzle, competitive setback games with family and friends, and cheering on the Boston Red Sox and UConn basketball teams.

Peter was a long-time parishioner of St. Francis Church, serving as a lector, eucharistic minister, and a member of the parish council and finance committee. Peter was instrumental in the planning, financing, and development of the parish center.

Peter was known to all as a gentle soul, admired for his keen intellect, quick wit, and ready smile. Throughout his life, Peter exemplified both humility and grace, despite his extraordinary athletic accomplishments and long and successful legal career.

In addition to his wife, Peter is survived by his children Timothy Sipples (Kazuko), Kyle Sipples (Carla), Kate Reeves (Simon), and Catherine Guarino (Dan); his grandchildren Henry, Nico, Hamish, Beatrice, Iona, Hunter, Natalie, and Zachary; his sister Kathy Michalski (Robert); his cousin Carol Parker (Richard); his goddaughter Ellen Adams; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Friday, May 24 from 4pm-7pm at Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver St., Middletown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 25 beginning at 2pm at St. Francis Church, 10 Elm St., Middletown. Guests are asked to go directly to the church. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Peter’s memory to St. Francis Church, Middletown.