Kip. Photo by Terry Ratner, August 2015.
Over the weekend, we found out sadly that Kip Krueger had passed Thursday night, September 15.
In the hospital since late July with blood clots, and after a critical surgery in an attempt to save his life, Kip was finally diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. He died in his sleep, done in by blood clot to his lungs.
Kip’s brother Rod is arranging for him to be cremated and there will be a ceremony at Jim Bell’s house — where Kip lived — in a couple of weeks.
Kip has been a mainstay on Voltaire Street for decades, and most recently you could find him and his hand-painted signs in front of the Green Center. Regulars, other OBceans, strangers and even tourists would drop by and visit with Kip and learn the latest news on the street.
Earlier in OB for a very long time, Kip’s name was synonymous with Green politics – Green Peace, the Green Party, the Green Store.
Arriving in OB in March of 1988, by April of 1989, he and Colleen Dietzel had opened the Green Store on Sunset Cliffs Blvd. in Ocean Beach. The green center moved to Voltaire Street not too long after, where it has consistently been open to the community as a resource since the early 1990s.
Born in Compton, California — and “proud of it” — Kip came into the world on March 6, 1953.
Kip during a clean-up of the Gate Way ‘mini-park’
He will be sadly missed — and there will be an empty chair outside Jim Bell’s old house that no one else can fill. Rip, brother.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I am glad I got to know him a bit. RIP Kip.
Love you, Kip!!!!
Such good energy from Kip. Rest in peace.
I will miss Kip’s voice, humor, signs, and good heart. He will always be a big part of the fabric that makes up OB.
Dito, on Debs love you, Kip. Thanks for all you did for OB.
So sad, appreciate his wisdom over an IPA on Voltaire-bless!!!
Ordered many a custom sign as gifts or special messages!
Sad news. He will be missed by many, and remembered for a long time through his whimsical signage. We have many around our home that we love. Best wishes to his family and loved ones.
Rest In Peace Kip. Everyone who knew you will be able to hear your voice (for me this is especially true when you would say “Al-riight”) forever but OB won’t be the same without you and your wit, joy, and light.
Your spirit is not forgotten Kip.
I had been missing Kip on my strolls down Voltaire. He always had something to say. I recently heard he was ill. OB will miss him and his signs which we see all over town. Thanks Kip, you added much color to OB.
Aaah, sorry and sad to read this news. He sure added soul and goodwill during my years living on Voltaire. One of the many cornerstones that made OB OB. Happy trails, Kip.
I always enjoyed our conversations and smiled when he called me the “Michigan Kid.” I politely reminded him that Blue dog and myself were from Omaha, and he would have the biggest smile when I said it. RIP Amigo! I am proud to have known you and the history that you brought to OB.
After decades in SD, I moved away in 2019.
Each time I’ve visited SD since then, just like many times I’d visit OB when I lived in SD, I looked forward to, and often made a point to visit Kip, and sometimes buy a sign for me or someone else as a gift.
Knowing he was in San Diego was kind of like a security blanket feeling, knowing there are still people who have been trying to live simple and wage peace in the world, and I found comfort spending time talking to him, and bringing visitors to him.
Nice to know that whatever heaven or astral plane transfer or reincarnation or whatever/wherever Kip is now will be oft greeted with that raspy suave “Alriiight”
Ah, what the heck, I started a Kip group!: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kipofvoltaire
feel free to share any related pics or memories, and to pass the link on to whoever you think might be interested :)
Thanks so much for starting this sharing group. Kip was really special, and I’m so glad that he is being remembered so wonderfully. Many thanks also to Frank for the great write up about Kip’s life and passing. Yesterday, on my walk with my little dog, Greta, I saw the collection of flowers and writings remembering and honoring Kip on the table next to where he sat. Greta snuffled around looking for him, and I spoke with another of the many friends of Kip, who was taking as many photos of Kip’s signs as she could, “before they’re all gone, too.”