Marvin Russel Tripp

Marvin Russel Tripp passed away on August 30, 2022 at the age of 96.  A life-long Californian, he attended Oakland Technical High School (inducted to their inaugural Hall of Fame in 2015).  Marv received a Third Assistant Engineer license from the California Maritime Academy and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of the Pacific.  He also earned a Master’s Degree in Education from San Francisco State University. A military veteran, he served in the Merchant Marines at the close of World War II.

Marv hoped to make a career as a singer.  During the early 1950s, he performed on television in Hollywood and San Francisco, and was a production singer in Las Vegas, going by the stage name Jay Reynolds.  When he and his wife Jeanette began a family, he turned to education as his primary career, serving as a teacher then as an elementary school principal, primarily in Orinda and in the Oakland Public Schools. 

Because of his love of music, Marv continued to sing for various Bay Area dance bands and combos on holidays and weekends.  Along the way, he produced a recording, A Guy Who’s Gotta Sing.  He also used his singing talents as a member of the Bohemian Club. His music career spanned over 50 years.

Marv met the love of his life Jeanette when they were both fifteen. They married when they were twenty and spent the next 68 years together.  They enjoyed fixing up their Oakland home, gardening, entertaining friends and family, and travel. Marv was also an avid tennis player and golfer, participating in both sports into his 90s. He shot under his age many times and recorded four hole-in-ones, his last at the age of 93.  In retirement, Marv participated in many local organizations, including the aforementioned Bohemian Club, the Bay Area Council of the National Association of Investment Clubs, and the Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies (CORE) program. After Jeanette’s death, Marv moved to Davis to be closer to family.  He continued to lead a vibrant and active life of service and entertainment until his death.

Marv is preceded in death by his parents John & Mae Tripp, his sister Joan Hough, his wife Jeanette, and his great grandson Joshua.  He is survived by his sister Beverly Montgomery (Bill), his children Cynthia Tripp, Tom Tripp (Debra), and Steven Tripp (Elise), eight grandchildren (Melanie, Andrew, Paul, Laura, Gregory, Peter, Nathan and Hannah) and ten great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held on October 21 at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Oakland (Broadway & 27^th), followed by a reception.  A gift in Marv’s memory may be given to the music program at Oakland Technical High School or to the music program at the University of the Pacific or to Hannah Boys Center in Sonoma.