Beaver Experience:
I graduated in 1991 and had a fantastic experience. I love Beaver and the small community that felt like a mini college. I still keep in contact with Jane Molding, who was my English teacher. She is the reason I’m doing what I’m doing in life. Jane understood one of the only things I really loved at that time was creative writing and reading, so she created a separate little class for four of us. It was definitely the reason I was able to get into Syracuse early admission. I met my best friend in the world during my freshman year at Beaver. We were doubles tennis partners. He was number one singles and I was number two singles. Since 1988, we’ve been friends. My kids call him Uncle Danny, and to say your best friend in life came from 4 years at a school is pretty spectacular.
What is #happeningnow in your life:
I have always loved teaching kids and watching a smile on their faces when they understand something. I also loved English and writing and the news came on one day while I was at Syracuse, and I watched Tom Brokaw, the main anchor for NBC at the time, and wondered how he put the show together, so I went to Syracuse’s TV station and asked if I could help them over the radio. I wrote my story and called it in over the radio. I went home later that night and it was a repeat of the TV news with the story that I wrote, and it was like someone hit me over the head with a sledgehammer. It was junior year, so it was too late to change my major. I came home to Boston because I didn’t have a resume tape at the time and worked for free at Newton cable. I worked various jobs to make money while sending out my video to a bunch of small markets. I sent the tape to a company in Idaho Falls, and although they told me there was a more qualified candidate, they gave me an opportunity. I was in Idaho for nine months and then moved to Kingston, New York, to work at RNN. I anchored with a woman who I started dating, and we moved to Miami together. We then moved back to Boston and anchored here at WHDH together for five years and were the first married couple in Boston since Chet and Natalie who were on Channel 5. We anchored together for five years and I got a job in New York at WABC and then WCVB. After that, I was the main anchor of NBC 10 Boston. Currently, I work at NBC in New York, and I’m going back and forth right now because it’s a freelance gig at NBC in New York. After all, nobody’s hiring right now due to Covid-19, so I’m working there freelance waiting for things to loosen up, and then I’ll take a full-time position somewhere in New York.
I love my job and how it allows me to travel and be excited about each day. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some of my favorite celebrities. I interviewed all the Led Zeppelin members, flew with the Canadian Air Force, and swam with sharks. I am so grateful for those experiences, but not everything has been bright and happy. I reported during Hurricane Sandy in 90 mile an hour winds. I reported the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting, which took place when my son was eight years old, the same age as all those kids, and I covered the Boston Marathon bombing, which was really tough because it’s my home. I have seen disturbing things, but it is essential for the media to provide accurate reporting to the people.
“Beaver is a much bigger part of my life than I think I’ve ever given it credit for. This interview took me down memory lane and made me appreciate all the amazing people at Beaver and the great memories I had throughout my time there.”
– Phil Lipof ’91
Advice to current Beaver students:
Beaver is an incredible opportunity that you shouldn’t take for granted. Cherish your time and work hard. You are probably going to have a friend or two that you’ll have for life.
