Those of us that knew Florence Shipek (center, at LMVA's Living History program last September) will miss her greatly. She was a special person who touched many lives. This autobiographical narrative was contributed by her son, Carl Shipek of Point Loma.

      Most Kumeyaay already know my career since I began working for San Diego Reservations in 1954, I thought you would be more interested in why I am the person I am. A major aspect of Kumeyaay Culture and Spirit struck a responsive chord in my life. In 1779 Pedro Fages, governor of California, wrote of your ancestors, that they are "stubborn, haughty, warlike, hostile, absolutely opposed to all rational subjection and full of the spirit of independence". I often thought that King George III must have said the same about my ancestry - The non-conformist English, the constantly rebellious Scots and Irish. I would say that the Kumeyaay and my family still reflect that independent spirit.
      My mother's people fled England because they wanted to read the bible for themselves, then they got kicked out of Massachusetts for the same reason. They fought in the Revolutionary War. One woman founded the first female academy in the states. They were Abolitionists and Suffragettes for many generations. My mother marched in suffragette parades, and worked in Margaret Sanger's clinics caring for abused women and children. She was the top honor graduate of Columbia Dental College in 1914; Dad was in 1915.
      Growing up, any subject mentioned by any of us (4 children), had to be discussed from several points of view. We always had to examine many sides to any subject. Until I entered college, I was in a different school almost every year, as Dad was at different Navy stations. Teachers let me go my own way because they knew I would be gone again and I was always reading beyond their class work. In college, I was fortunate in my two major subjects - Anthropology (University of Arizona) and Geology (U. Washington) - both faculties made us look for flaws in any theory and try to find alternate explanations to that presented in the literature. During World War II, I worked for the Navy (poor eyesight kept me out of the military) and I married a serviceman, a geology student had I met at the University of Washington. He was a genious and wonderful man - some of you may remember him. We settled here because Dad was stationed at NTC at the war's end and Carl, my husband became a marine geologist working at the Navy Lab. I have two sons, Carl Jr. and David, whom some of you know. Carl is in computer technology. David is a fireman and triathloner, running the Hawaiian Iron Man (140.6 mile swim, bike and run). I was happy to go to in Hawaii to watch him swim, bike, and run.
      My background and unusual education were good practice for working here after Public Law 280 passed. As I began, I thought "I have read everything published to date about Southern California Indians, no problem." But six months later, I said "forget what is in the books, none represent what I am finding. I must explore and discover for myself"- Reading old records and interviewing elders. Quite frankly, my eyes were opened to major injustices, events that were never in the literature, I was shocked at the dishonesties practiced by government officials and some early settlers, and by the misinformation in history and other books. In contrast, I was greatly impressed by the Kumeyaay scientific and cultural knowledge that I learned when working on the claims and other cases. Last but definitely not least, I have truly enjoyed knowing the Kumeyaay people who have become my friends. And who stood by me when I was widowed. I will never forget.

                 Thank you for being my friends,
                                                                                         Florence.

...And a note from LMVA President, Jan Tubiolo.

I first met Florence Shipek several years ago when she came up to the Roost to give a presentation. We honored her with a Life Membership in LMVA and over the years, I called upon her for information on the Kumeyaay, both on the mountain and other places in San Diego county.

Florence was very strong in her beliefs and I’m sure that strength kept her on course over the years as she struggled for validation in her career. Her parents were both dentists who encouraged her curiosity and supported her in tackling any endeavor. She entered college at the age of 15 and was proud of the fact that she overcame a visual disability (probably dyslexia) to achieve her undergraduate degree and later her Doctorate in Anthropology. She stated many times that her husband was a genius who developed many innovations for the for Scripps Institute of Oceanography – and also took over the care of their boys when she became an activist for the native Americans.

I am drawn to people of principle and Florence certainly was that! My name for people such as her is, “Stemwinder”. She captured my heart and my friendship and I will miss her head-on approach to life.

For more information:
-Union-Tribune article on Dr. Shipek
-Kumeyaay culture
-LMVA's Living History program

Back