Douglas “Brian” Lawrence Nippa

Douglas Lawrence Nippa (“Brian”), born in Joliet, Illinois on October 24, 1949, passed away at his home in Lafayette, California on June 14, 2025. Brian grew up in Lockport, IL building forts out of snow or dirt with his friends and skateboarding on homemade ramps in his friend’s basement. When his parents bought an organ, he was so curious about it he taught himself how to play. In fact, he loved how mechanisms worked, taking them apart and putting them back together – a true engineer! His love of music continued as he learned how to play the euphonium and eventually the French Horn.
Brian graduated from the University of Illinois in 1971 with a Chemical Engineering degree and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to work for Chevron, working at both the Richmond refinery and in the San Francisco office. Brian later worked for Shell Oil Products in their Martinez, CA location for many years as a Senior Process Engineer. He enjoyed his job immensely and never came home from work in a bad mood.
Brian was very involved in the music world and loved playing the French Horn. While working in the Chevron San Francisco office, he and four other men started the Piedmont Brass Group – a five piece brass ensemble. He later played the French Horn for several community orchestras and sang in various choral groups, including: Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra, Diablo Symphony Orchestra, Cantare Con Vivo, Pacific Mozart Ensemble, Point Richmond Madrigal Singers, San Francisco Symphony Chorus, San Francisco Bay Area Chamber Choir and the Walnut Creek United Methodist Sanctuary Choir.
Brian had an unwavering faith in God and was active at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church for many years.
Brian loved dancing, food, concerts, theater, skiing and travel. He was an extremely caring and generous person who donated to many causes. He enjoyed the mountains and loved working on a family cabin on a small lake near Tahoe. He also was a member of the Art Deco Society of California. Initially he detested the idea of dressing up in vintage clothing, but when he looked in a mirror and saw how “cool” he looked in a fedora and a 1930’s pinstripe suit, he changed his mind.
Douglas Lawrence Nippa is predeceased by his parents Lawrence and Dorothy Nippa and survived by his daughter Courtney Wise, wife Karen Nippa, sister Loral Czerkies, nephew Aaron Czerkies, and many cousins. He will be missed immensely.
All are invited to join family and friends at a Celebration of Life Service on August 16, 2025 at 11 a.m. at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church, 1543 Sunnyvale Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA.

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