Peter Garipay and I have been friends since 1957. We met as students at MHS. Peter was a very special person. Peter, in his position as asst. principal, was able to help hundreds and hundreds of young Melrose people. He understood the underdog. He helped the kids that needed assistance, from academic problems to personal problems. He was the man you went to with any type of problem.The kids know this. The kids he has helped through the years will not forget Mr.Garipay. He knew everybody. He had a great sense of humor, he was respectful, and he never, ever, forgot his Melrose roots.

Ted Williams once said "There is no greater man than one who stoops to help a child" That was who Peter Garipay was- a great man, with a warm smile and a kind heart for the thousands of kids who passed the doors of Melrose High over the years. No surprise that Erin chose him to give her diploma to her when she graduated. After Erin told me he passed I went for coffee. Not a drop of rain today but I looked up in the sky and there it was, a rainbow. Blew me away. RIP Buddy. So glad your battle is over but wishing you didn't have to leave us. God Bless to the Garipay family.

Mr. Garipay was one of the finest administrators Melrose Jr High and the Melrose High Schools ever had. He was a fair but tough principal. He always found a way to find the good in people. I had an occasion to run into him after 30 years. He remembered my face and my name. I got to know him as adults. He always had a funny story and happy memory to share. I will miss him and Melrose has lost one of it's finest citizens.

Mr.Garipay was my biggest inspiration. He helped me get to where I am today and become who I am. He always called me a SUPERSTAR....( Even though everyone was a superstar to him) when he said it to you, you felt like you were the only one. He believed in everyone no matter what their situation was. He Encouraged us to WANT to be something, because he knew we all WOULD be something great someday. RIP Mr.Garipay You are the real SUPERSTAR! <3 Kaylin Fowlie

I always remember Mr. Garipay as a true gentleman with an adorable smile....he & his wife used to come into the Irish shop where I once worked years ago and they were just the nicest couple...rest in eternal peace Mr. Garipay and God bless your family in their time of sorrow

I was a student of Mr. Garipay 's from 6th grade all the way to 12th. I was lucky enough to have him as a math teacher as well as my principal. He always saw the best in me even if I was not always on my best behavior. I remember him taking the extra time to make sure I understood fractions and everything else I had trouble with. Math was not my favorite subject, but he helped me understand the the things that confused me and from 7th grade on math got easier. My favorite memory of Mr. Garipay is he always introduced me to students, teachers, and administrators the same way " This is "T", she's a good kid. I would always smile when he said that. He never knew that him telling me I was a good kid helped to keep me from making some bad choices. So thanks Mr. Garipay for always seeing and believing in the " good kid " inside of me. RIP Mr. Garipay thanks for everything you did for me. Tahira "T" Carleton