Andy Lipman lived a life of defiance — defying the odds, expectations and his own fears.
He was diagnosed at birth with cystic fibrosis, an inherited disorder that damages the lungs, digestive system and other organs and has no cure. At age 9, he stumbled upon a chilling statistic: Most people with the disease don’t live to see their 25th birthday.
The number haunted him. Yet, not only did Lipman reach 25, he soared beyond it, becoming a beacon of hope for others battling the illness.
“Andy defied all expectations put upon him when he was born with cystic fibrosis,” said Vicki Nix, executive director of the Georgia chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “Andy didn’t let cystic fibrosis define him, but instead propel him toward a life of championing progress, community, support and hope.”
Andrew “Andy” Cary Lipman, a tireless advocate and fundraiser in the fight against cystic fibrosis — as well as an author, Olympic torch carrier and devoted family man — died Jan. 17 at the age of 51. He died from a brain aneurysm, according to wife, Andrea.
“I don’t think people realize that. His lungs and everything were great,” she said. “He had 93% percent lung function when he died.”
A graveside service was held on Jan. 19 at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, with 1,600 people attending and 300 watching online. Leaders from the national headquarters of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation were among them,
“He was a superstar in the cystic fibrosis world, for sure,” Andrea Lipman said.
His older sister, Wendy, had died of the disease at 16 days old — a loss that helped fuel his relentless fight to improve care, treatment and support for the nearly 40,000 Americans, including 900 Georgians, living with it.
“He really had a mission of curing the disease,” his wife said.
For over two decades, Lipman and his family were active with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The family’s A Wish for Wendy Foundation, raised more than $4 million for CFF, with Lipman personally raising another $500,000-plus in the past five years.
In addition, Lipman served on the board of directors and in other positions with the Georgia chapter of CFF.
“He lived a meaningful life of service in his tireless quest to improve conditions for people around the world living with CF,” his family wrote in his obituary. “Andy’s journey was a testament to his courage and positivity.”
Tributes poured in from friends and admirers.
“His passing is heartbreaking, but what a warrior he was. He truly made our world a better place,” wrote one. Another said: “Andy will be missed by so many. Heaven gained a pure angel.”
A graduate of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, Lipman was an avid fan of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Braves.
He channeled his passion for helping others into writing and speaking.
Lipman authored three books: “Alive at 25: How I’m Beating Cystic Fibrosis,” “The Drive at 35: The Long Road to Beating Cystic Fibrosis” and “The CF Warrior Project” series, sharing his journey of resilience and inspiring readers to embrace life despite challenges.
Lipman was candid about the struggles that came with living with an incurable disease, including battling depression. In an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he recalled his lowest point in 1992, his sophomore year at UGA. Overwhelmed by the thought of not making it to 25, he abandoned his medication and therapy, succumbing to despair and hopelessness.
A chance game of three-on-three basketball with fraternity brothers was a turning point.
A teammate’s lighthearted chiding about Lipman’s frail physique stung. But it also woke within him a determination not just to survive but to truly live. He recommitted to his treatments and a stronger body.
“Andy’s life was a gift that will be felt for the next generations of those living with CF,” Nix said. “There was no opportunity he did not seize, and because of that, he accumulated many titles — the proudest being ‘Dad’ to Ethan and Avery.”
As his last act of generosity, Lipman donated his organs to give the gift of life to others, something he never thought would happen. Andrea Lipman said his lungs were donated for CF research at the University of North Carolina, where his daughter, Avery, is a freshman.
“We were just lucky that he had the opportunity to save other’s lives,” his wife said.
He never thought his organs would be in good enough shape to be transplanted. But doctors found he had an athlete’s heart, she said.
Lipman is survived by his wife of 22 years, Andrea; his children, Avery and Ethan; his father, Charles Lipman; and his sister, Emily Lipman Mahar.
