Karen Louise (Breed) Piper
I am sad to report that Karen Piper, long-time business manager of The NUCLEUS, administrator of the Esselen Award and one time NESACS Administrative Secretary passed away on December 21 at her home in Harvard, Massachusetts. Karen is survived by her husband, James U. Piper, long-time and recently retired, Treasurer of NESACS. She is also survived by daughters Jeananne C. Piper Grady and husband Alexander of Hingham and Jessica L. Piper Leahy and husband Michael of Boston. She was predeceased by infant
win sons, James and Jonathan.
In her role as Business Manager, Karen meticulously maintained financial records, worked with Vince Gale on Nucleus advertising and printers, developed budgets, billed the advertisers, did collections and maintained the mailing list. This was all done quietly and seamlessly from her home in Harvard. Karen, occasionally, visited us at our monthly Board of Publications Meetings or called in. Her work was very much behind the scenes, but critical to managing The Nucleus.
We were pleased in 2012 to recognize her efforts with the Arno Heyn Memorial Book Prize. In April Karen was a guest of the Esselen Award Committee in recognition of her longrelationship with the Esselen Family and administration of the award. Karen was flawless in this endeavor as I always received the award information for publication in The Nucleus within the deadline and complete in all details. Soon after I would receive the text of the Esselen Award address. Karen ran a tight ship!
Karen had a very strong bond with the Esselen Family and maintained her role as administrator of the Esselen Award despite having resigned as NESACS Administrative Secretary in 1992.
For her many years of contributions to NESACS in collaboration with Jim Piper, she was, along with Jim (also the 1990 Hill Awardee), the 2016 Henry A. Hill Award Recipient. It is great that Karen received these recognitions for nearly 30 years of service to our Section. She will be missed. (M. Filosa)
A description in Karen’s own words of her contributions to NESACS over the years … [PDF]
