Friends and family celebrate the life of Sharon Lipe
- Tom Weber
- Aug 9
- 3 min read
CARBONDALE, Ill. — A packed house of friends, family, former players and coaches paid tribute to Sharon Lipe during a Celebration of Life this afternoon in the Cook Club at SIU.
The long-time secretary for the program, Ms. Sharon, as she was affectionately known, recently passed away after a battle with cancer.
She worked 24 years at SIU, including 19 seasons in the football office, mentoring dozens of coaches, hundreds of players, and touching the lives of so many who came in contact with the program. With husband and team chaplain, Roger, the pair were beloved by the Saluki Football program.
Today's speakers included quarterback Joel Sambursky (2001-05), and here are some of his remarks:
“She was, as we've heard today, and I agree, foundational to the success of Saluki Football. She never called a play, coached a practice, or caught a touchdown, but she deserves as much credit for its success as anyone. She really was the glue that held it all together. She was a mother to so many, myself included, she was a constant presence in our lives during our athletic careers in Carbondale. And I'm fortunate that that was true long after my football days ended.
You only get maybe one semester with your favorite teacher, or professor, and coaches and teammates can sometimes come and go, but Sharon was always there in the football lobby to ask you about your day, offer you a Jolly Rancher, and take time to invest in you. She was there after a devastating loss with a smile on her face and a hug to hand out, and I received many hugs my first year in Carbondale.
She was there when we shocked the football world, going from worst to first in the conference, and yet Sharon was absolutely no different. You see, our worth to her was far more than any game’s final score. And this is why so many looked at Sharon as a mom. It's not just because she cooked us a meal every once in a while. It's because we were safe with her.
In a world of cutthroat college athletics, Sharon's desk was a refuge for us. We could hide. We could be sheltered from pressure, and high expectations, and Jerry Kill (laughs). Even if it was just for a few minutes or a couple of hours, that time was invaluable to us. She didn't want anything from us. She had no expectation of that. She always was focused on the needs of others.”
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