Friends, family open through the Coronado man who was killed in the house fire

Coronado, California – The Coronado community still mourns the loss of the local legend Bob Kipperman, who was killed in a house fire last Friday. While the crews continued to examine one thing, friends and family shared more about the man, his brand in the area and his last moments.

“He is just known to be so well known,” said Wayne Strickland, tipperman's long -time friend. “He missed it, but he won't forget.”

Knowing Coronado was Bob Kipperman.

“Bob Kipperman. Everyone loved him, “said Strickland.

Strickland saw it first hand in his fifty years of friendship with Kipperman or “Kippy”, as many people called it.

“Kippy, he was such a funny guy,” said Strickland.

Kipperman owned a well -known clothing store in Coronado, which was appropriately called Kippys.

It closed in 2015, but his career in fashion was not yet over. Strickland said Kipperman also made and sold “belt and wallet in Barrio Logan”.

“He was a kind of versatile guy and he had his own style,” said Strickland.

Kipperman has lived in Coronado since he was nine years old. He was ready to celebrate his 84th birthday the next month until the tragedy struck last Friday afternoon.

His home on the 1400 block of 6^TH Street caught fire shortly before 1:30 p.m. and took Kipperman's life with it.

“As a retired Coronado firefighter, it is difficult to see that something like this happens and loses a life,” said Strickland, who worked with the Coronado fire brigade for 32 years.

Kipperman's son, who was not ready to speak in front of the camera with ABC 10News, said Kipperman had just lunch with his wife Karina when the fire broke out. He said Karina got out and hurried to the house of her neighbors to call 911, but until then it was too late. He said the house was on fire within two minutes.

While Kipperman may no longer be with us, Strickland said that his spirit could live on in all of us.

“Be like Kippy,” he said. That was he – a good friend. “

ABC 10NEWs turned to the Coronado fire brigade to update its investigation and a possible cause. We still have to hear back.

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