Pictured above: Doug and Andrea Lippincott stand inside the King Ferry Food Pantry located in Cayuga County | Photo by: Ben Cleeton
Some legacies are built not in a single moment, but across a lifetime of quiet, consistent care for others.
For generations in southern Cayuga County, Pauline and Stacey Lippincott embodied that kind of steady, neighborly service — and now, their values will continue to nourish their community through the Pauline and Stacey Lippincott Endowment Fund, established at the Community Foundation by their son, Doug, and daughter-in-law, Andrea.
With a $25,000 gift, the family created a permanent source of support for the King Ferry Food Pantry, an organization that was deeply close to Pauline’s heart.
“My parents grew up during the Great Depression and understood the challenges of food insecurity and were keenly aware those threats exist today in their own community,” Doug said. “The mission of the King Ferry Food Pantry is ‘to provide access to healthy food and resources for neighbors in need.’ That mission fits perfectly with mom and dad’s lifetime mission of service above self.”
Pauline and Stacey were high school sweethearts who graduated from King Ferry Central School in 1943 and were married in 1944, just before Stacey was deployed to serve in World War II in the Pacific. After his return home in 1946, the two built a life rooted in family, hard work and community — a partnership that lasted 79 years until Pauline’s death in 2023 at 98, followed by Stacey’s passing in 2024 at 99.
Pauline, who operated Pauline’s Beauty Shop in King Ferry for 25 years, was far more than a small-business owner. Around town, she was known as someone you could call when you needed a ride to a doctor’s appointment, help watching children or simply a listening ear.
“Mom once said, ‘I enjoy helping people; I couldn’t turn anyone down,’” Doug shared.
A consummate community activist, Pauline volunteered with the King Ferry PTA, Our Lady of the Lake Church, the King Ferry Historical Association and many other local groups. She was also a founding volunteer of the King Ferry Food Pantry when it opened in 1996.
“The pantry was near and dear to her heart,” Doug said.
Stacey, a 1950 graduate of Ithaca College and a longtime employee of NCR before retiring in 1984, stood alongside Pauline in much of her community work. He also served as a Little League coach and umpire and helped found several local golf leagues.
Together, they lived the values of duty, service, love of family and responsibility to others.
Today, that legacy continues through the fund that will provide lasting support to the King Ferry Food Pantry, which served more than 7,500 people and provided nearly 160,500 meals in 2024 alone.
Across rural communities like southern Cayuga County, food insecurity is often driven by systemic challenges — including limited access to affordable groceries, transportation barriers and economic inequities — making trusted, community-based food pantries essential anchors of stability and care.
“Receiving perpetual distributions from the Pauline and Stacey Lippincott Endowment Fund ensures that we can continue to serve our neighbors in need well into the future,” said Debbie Patrick, executive director of the King Ferry Food Pantry.
For Doug, creating the fund was about both honoring his parents and giving back to the community that helped shape them.
“King Ferry and southern Cayuga County are special to me,” Doug said. “My parents were great role models, but I also reaped many benefits from the guidance and support of the good folks of King Ferry and surrounding communities.”
By establishing this fund at the Community Foundation, the Lippincott family ensured their gift will grow and provide support not just today, but for generations.
“Mom and dad made the most of their longevity, living full and caring lives,” Doug said. “Andrea and I hope this gift will inspire others to support the remarkable work of the pantry and ensure its permanence in the community.”
If you are interested in learning more about how you can support the community you love, please contact a member of our Development Team: donorsupport@cnycf.org or 315.422.9538 (ext. 1)
