Community Corner
Dearborn School District Remembers Bob Cipriano
One week after Dearborn Public Schools Business Director Robert Cipriano was murdered in his Farmington Hills home, district employees delivered a touching tribute.
Under normal circumstances, Dearborn Public Schools Business Services Manager Bob Cipriano would have been in attendance at Monday evening's Board of Education meeting.
But on April 16, news spread through the Dearborn district that Cipriano, 52, was –allegedly .
On Monday night, board members and employees, some of whom dabbed their eyes with tissues, found the words to express their grief about Cipriano. After a video tribute, several board members and Superintendent Brian Whiston made statements about Cipriano and his contributions to the district.
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“When I first took this position about four years ago, I was going around to the various department heads to find out more about them and their work,” recalled Whiston. “Bob was telling me how much he loved being here in Dearborn–he had left a lucrative job to come here–but then he told me that he wasn’t very good at math.
“I said ‘Bob, I’m confused. You’re the financial manager.' He just stated laughing. It was his way of pulling my leg,” Whiston added.
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School Board President Mary Lane said Cipriano, who oversaw a more than $200 million budget, was a reassuring force during a turbulent fiscal storm for the district.
“The words that come to mind are calm, quiet and self-effacing,” she said. “When other school districts worried about their finances, I was thankful we didn’t have to worry about that.”
Through tears, Lane said: “We just didn’t know how short our time would be.”
Officials also showed support for Cipriano’s wife, Rose, and son, Salvatore, who were also attacked, and who are both .
Salvatore and his twin brother, Tanner, are both students at in Novi.
will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at in Farmington Hills.
Dearborn Public Schools administrative offices will be closed 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday to allow employees to attend the funeral.
"(Cipriano) took great pride in the Dearborn family and really made it special,” said Whiston. “He was there for the kids, no matter what. He would argue over $10, but if it was for the kids, he would find a way to make it happen.”
“He is going to be difficult to replace, and he’s in our hearts,” said Whiston. “I don’t know what else I can say except that I love Bob.”
