Randolph Piper

Randolph Penn Piper, native of Flint, died peacefully on January 5, 2022 with his children and wife at his side.  Dad, husband, brother, grandpa, gardener, writer, painter, poet, Captain, traveler, lawyer, DJ and giver, rested his case after a miraculous six-year triumph over pancreatic cancer.   He was 73.
Randy was born December 1, 1948, the 3rd son to Mark “Bud” and Louise Piper in booming Flint, Michigan.   Baby brother Chuck would soon follow and along with Bob and Larry would round out the “Piper Brothers”.  Randy and his brothers spent their youths walking to Pierce, Whittier and Flint Central schools (uphill both ways we were told) and their summers water skiing on Lake Fenton.  Sharing the sidewalk and driveway on Maxine Street was the beautiful Karen Rundles, oldest daughter of the late Dr. Walt and EJ Rundles.  Randy and Karen’s senior prom was just their beginning.
The sounds of 1970 Motown serenaded newlywed Randy and Karen after college (Albion and University of Michigan, respectively) where they lived while he attended the University of Detroit law school. A newly minted lawyer, Randy returned to Flint in 1972 and spent the next 44 years practicing law from the 14th floor of the Mott Foundation building.
1974 (Lauren), 1975 (Jeremy) and 1978 (Katie) marked the beginning of a never-ending series of seemingly impossible events for Randy.  “If they wanted you to climb on that, there would be a sign on it that says ‘please climb on this’” a constant refrain from Randy heard most often on family vacations Up North, in Florida or around town.   The era of crashed cars and speeding tickets was of particular annoyance to Randy who never seemed angry but had an adroit way of quietly presenting you a paid bump shop bill, “slow down” is all he’d say and return to his nightly crossword puzzle.   The successive wedding seasons were some of his finest hours.  He loved a good toast (write it down), dressing dapper (blazer always, especially when flying) and a great cocktail party (music always).  Scotch on the rocks with a twist of lemon.    Grandchildren soon followed and Randy dreamed of the day he could toast with them.   The family cottage in Bay View was gaining significance and, with constant patches and upgrades, the askew 144-year-old Tilt-N-Hilton became the center of the Family universe. Old friends and cherished new ones celebrated life on and around Little Traverse Bay.
In 2007, perfection was shattered when God took Karen.
Rising from the ashes to inspire hope, comfort, love and companionship was Randy’s rock and saint, Susie Stuewer.   A proud Albion alum herself, Susie has been a lifelong friend.  Randy and Susie were married on the 4th of July 2012 in the Bay View chapel.  The wedding was short as a parade was starting outside and the wedding party wanted candy.  Randy’s best man, 1 year-old Teddy, was speechless so no toast was given.   Randy and Susie have been a constant ever since, although their whereabouts were not always clear.  Fenton, Gaylord, Bay View, Lake Charlevoix, Naples, Paris, Sorrento, At Sea, Thailand, always somewhere but never far.  His courage, survival and compassion is a reflection of his love for Susie and their life together.

Like painted kites
Those days and nights, they went flyin’ by
The world was new
Beneath a blue umbrella sky
Then softer than a piper man
One day, it called to you
And I lost you, I lost you
To the summer wind.”  - F. Sinatra

Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Bud & Louise Piper, his brothers Robert and Larry Piper and his girl next door, Karen.   He is survived by his wife Susie Stuewer his children Lauren (Dave) Opdycke, Jeremy (Amy) Piper and Katie (Sean) Roberts, Susie’s children Brad (Dana) Bensinger, Adam (Tara) Bensinger and his glorious grandchildren Eloise, Ty, Abigail, Jack, Penn, Jaron, Samantha, Sophie O., Leah, Sophie P., Lucy, Josie, Teddy, Cody and Braden.

A celebration of Randy’s life will take place 4:30 PM Thursday, May 5, 2022 at Court Street United Methodist Church, 225 W Court St, Flint, MI 48502 with Rev. Jeremy Peters officaiting.  Private interment of ashes will be in the Bay View Memorial Garden this summer.   In lieu of flowers donations are encouraged to the Flint Institute of Arts www.flintarts.org.  The Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund www.henryford.com/development/make-a-gift, Henry Ford Health System, Development Office,  1 Ford Place #5A, Detroit, MI 48202,  or the Piper Fund, established by Randy at the Genesee County Bar Foundation www.gcbalaw.org.  Thank you to everyone for everything you did for Randy, especially the doctors and nurses.
R.I.P. R.P.P.