Linda Tripi was a beloved member of the deaf community and an instructor at MATC under the Community and Human Services Pathway. An email was sent to members of the MATC community announcing her death on February 5, 2026.

Linda was born on September 15, 1963 and began her MATC career in March 2001 as a part-time educational assistant. She became a full-time instructor of American Sign Language in August 2013, and as far as I’m aware, she remained a full-time ASL instructor until her passing.

Many students, including myself, remember her as devoted to teaching ASL and helping students succeed. She was also very understanding and accommodating to students when they needed it, and she always took time to make sure everyone in class was learning and feeling comfortable with whatever we were studying at the time. She had a strong passion for teaching others about the deaf community and ASL, and she has been referred to as ‘a Champion for the Deaf.’

I was very fortunate to have Linda as an instructor for three semesters. I took ASL 1, ASL 2, and then I took ASL 2 again to prepare for ASL 3. I was taking a break this semester until enough people were interested in taking ASL 3 to actually fill a course. 

I am sad that I won’t get to learn more from her, but I plan to continue learning ASL because I know she would have wanted that. I would often – if not always – be the last person to leave class and she would jokingly call me a turtle, which became a joke between us. I was shocked to hear of her passing, and I will miss her deeply. She is the reason I know more about the deaf community and have started to connect with those in that community. I hope to continue my ASL journey in her honor. Thank you for being my teacher Linda Tripi.

I reached out to others who knew her and were impacted by her so that they can share what she meant to them and how she impacted the world around her. Here are their words:

Current Students

“Linda was and always will be the best teacher I could ever have asked for. She was brutally honest but so genuine, kind, and funny at the same time. She was my ASL teacher for two semesters and pushed me to become a tutor for my classmates, making my love for the language and community grow stronger. I’ll always laugh at the memory of me trying to explain gender identity to her with my limited ASL, which led to a hilarious miscommunication and a running joke in our class. I’ll always laugh about the day where I accidentally put too much blush on my nose and she teased me for looking like Rudolph. When life got hard, she would talk with me, showing me that I had support in places I never thought of. She helped me to see that I even had an impact on the people around me. I still turn around when I hear jangling keys in hopes it’s her walking up to me to say hello and yap about random things. I don’t think that will ever change. Linda, you made the biggest impact on my life and I will miss you every single day. I hope you left this world knowing that your stories and tough love helped so many people. Thank you, Linda, for everything you’ve done. “
     ~Connor Dent

“Linda was my ASL teacher last semester and was the first and last in-person class I’ll ever take at MATC. One thing I could definitely say about her is that she was really honest and unapologetic. She said what she meant. She was helpful, kind, humorous, and saw growing potential in each and every one of us. She never hesitated to check in on everyone and make sure they were ok. Linda was one of a kind, and I could never forget the lasting impression she left on me as an instructor.”
     ~Devin Hayden

“Linda was an amazing teacher and mentor. She helped me advance in ASL quite a bit in the year-and-a-half that I was her student. She taught me so much about deaf culture [and] helped me gain confidence in myself and [my] abilities both in and outside of ASL. [Linda] was an extremely supportive, caring person in my life. I can’t thank her enough for helping me on my first step to becoming an interpreter. I know I didn’t know her as long as many others did, but she was a very influential figure in my life, and I will miss her greatly.”
     ~Olivia Glynn

Former Students

“I was a student in the interpreting program and Linda’s Ed Assistant the following year. Having kept touch with Linda and her husband over the years, [she] was not only my teacher and colleague but also my mentor and friend. She knew when to be serious and when to laugh. She had endless stories to share with her students, many of them about her family who she loved very much. Those who knew and loved her will never forget her boisterous laugh or the way she walked with purpose. Linda will forever be etched in my memory and her impact felt for decades to come.”
     ~Jessica Toth (class of 2018)

“I was lucky enough to have Linda as my first ASL teacher. Through her and her teaching style, I think I learned far more than I might have otherwise. Her class was an absolute joy to take because she was truly invested in helping her students learn no matter what difficulties they were having. The first time I met Linda was on the first day of my ASL 1 class, and my introduction about myself and why I was taking her class was so unusual that I actually surprised Linda. Through the duration of taking her ASL 1 and 2 classes, because of that initial introductory story, Linda never failed to mention how impressed she was with my progress in her classes when she got the chance. Linda was a teacher that you would strive to impress because when you did impress her, her genuine praise of your achievements meant everything to you because she meant whatever she was saying. She is someone who is on my very short list of teachers that I will forever adore and I am so grateful that I was able to take two classes from her and get to know her on the level that I did.”
      ~Katrina Hjelmgren 

Staff

“I feel incredibly fortunate enough to have known Linda both as a colleague and as an instructor.  Whether it was a warm greeting in the hall or a deep conversation during her breaks, she always made time for others.  Linda had a rare gift of bringing joy to the classroom, often leaving her students in laughter for minutes on end. Beyond her humor, she offered me profound empathy regarding my hearing loss, pushing me to advocate for myself and step outside my comfort zone. Her dedication to the deaf community was unmatched.  Linda will be deeply missed by her students and colleagues alike, leaving behind a legacy of kindness and empowerment.”
     ~Christopher Vanderhoef

“It is rare to find someone who carries the heart of an entire community within them, but Linda Tripi did it with unbreakable spirit. She was a reminder of the power of staying rooted in what she referred to as “having a Deaf Heart.” She didn’t just belong to her culture; she lived it. Whether through her advocacy and her strong presence, she ensured that her language and culture was respected and celebrated by everyone around her. Her work with the deaf community extended far beyond the office walls. She saw a need and dedicated herself to truly uplift a marginalized community. Even in the face of challenges, she led with resilience. She showed us that love for community is rooted in service to others.”
       ~Jacqueline Malmstadt

“To a beloved colleague and advocate: some lead through words, but you lead with your entire spirit, showing us what it means to stand tall for what is right. You were so much more than a teacher and interpreter; you were a devoted advocate who ensured the world truly saw and respected the deaf community. Your presence reminded us that accessibility is a fundamental right, not a favor. You gave so much of yourself back to the community, and your tireless contributions raised us to new heights. You taught us to hold this community close and to honor it with deep appreciation. And so, Linda, thank you for loving the community that I am privileged to know and for elevating my own work. I hope to take a fraction of your spirit along with me.”
     ~Andrea Metzger

“To know Linda was to respect her passion for ASL and deaf culture. As an educator at MATC, she held a high bar for excellence, ensuring that every interpreter understood the weight and beauty of the language. I see the depth of her influence every day, knowing that I am a product of her gift. Linda’s unique blend of honesty and kindness made her a beloved colleague and a cherished friend. She will be forever remembered for the authentic light she brought into the world.”
      ~Jodie Nigro

Friend

“I am a culinary student and American Sign Language tutor, but I first knew Linda through my role as President during our Deaf Culture Club meetings. Linda exuded a vibrant energy; her silliness and her famous ‘fist kiss’ were highlights of my day. It is hard to say goodbye without tearing up, but there is peace in knowing she has found her way home. She is in heaven now, reunited with loved ones. If you look at the clouds today, you’ll see them shining with her spirit. She has found her wings and is flying high above us all.”
     ~Channetta Winfield

I want to end this piece with a section from her obituary: 

“As Linda departs from our midst, her spirit ascends to join the cosmic dance of stars, a shimmering constellation of memories that will forever grace the night sky of the hearts of those who loved Linda. Though Linda may no longer walk beside us, her legacy lives on — a testament to the enduring power of love to transcend the boundaries of time and space.”