Rev Elder Ned Ripley passes away

The territory has lost a long serving church minister, Reverend Elder Ned Ripley of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa.

Rev. Ripley passed away October 9th in New Zealand where he was to deliver a keynote address at a gathering of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

He was 85.

His daughter faletua Leone Ripley Ulu said her father passed away suddenly after suffering a stroke. He was in a coma for 12 days, before he died at Waitakere Hospital, Auckland.

Reverend Ripley served the church for 52 years as a minister, 21 of those years was as Pastor of the Fagatogo CCCAS.

Born in Leone, church ministry was his whole life.

He was ordained a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa in 1966.

He was pastor of Otara Pacific Islanders Presbyterian Church from the year he was ordained up to 1981.

He was then appointed Dean of Maori and Pacific Island Studies at Knox Theological College in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Then in 1989 he received a calling to serve at the Fagatogo CCCAS and he and his late wife, Alice, and children moved to American Samoa.

Rev Ripley was pastor of Fagatogo until his retirement in 2010.

The Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa recognized the reverend’s experience in education having served as Dean of a theological school in New Zealand, and appointed him as Chairman of the Education Committee.

It was under his leadership that the CCCAS extabished Kanana fou High School.

He also served on the church Board of Regents and was secretary of the CCCAS Central District.

The servant of God also lent his skills and experience in education to steer the ASG Financial Aid Board that decided recipients of government scholarhips.

He was the one to announce the scholarship awards  during school graduations.

Rev Ripley also served as chairman of the Parole Board and the Mental Health Board.

In New Zealand, he was a Justice of the Peace.

He was awarded the Queen Service Medal for his service to the community in Aotearoa.

Faletua Leone Ripley said of her father, “he was a kind, patient and humble man who had a heart of servanthood. He loved the church loved his people and most important he loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Director of Education, Dr Ruth Matagi Tofiga, a member of the Fagatogo CCCAS said, “Tama Ned Ripley was a much loved, kind and caring pastor. He and Tina Alice through their prayers and encouragement have contributed to the success of most of our church’s youth and ourselves.”

She recalled that when she and her family moved back home in 1990 from California Tama Ned Ripley and Tina Alice were called to Fagatogo.

She’s proud that she and her husband and others were the Ripleys’ first deacons when they began their ministry in Fagatogo.

Dr. Matagi Tofiga said when Ned and Alice were pensioned in 2010 “it was an emotional moment for our parish but when it was decided that Iasepi and Leone were going to be our pastors, we were comforted that Tama Ned and Tina Alice will continue to eb part of our parish.”

A memorial service ceebrating Rev Ripley’s life of service to the church was conducted yesterday in Auckland.

Hus body is being escorted home to American Samoa by his children tomorrow.

His funeral services will be held next Thursday and Friday at the Leone CCCAS.

Rev Ripley was preceded in death by his wife Alice.  He leaves behind 6 children and 16 children.

KHJ News extends its deepest sympathies to the Ripley family for their loss.