Walter Slipe, longtime city manager who had larger vision for Sacramento, dies at 90

Stephen Hobbs
·3 min read

Walter Slipe, the long-running Sacramento city manager known for his reserved demeanor and efforts to help transform the economic future of the capital city, died June 14 at his home in Granite Bay. He was 90.

Brittany Dean, a granddaughter, said he died after suffering a stroke.

Slipe took over the top administrative job in 1976 after joining the city several years earlier. He held onto the role until 1993, retiring as Sacramento’s second longest-serving city manager.

During his tenure, the city grew rapidly and added attractions, like the Sacramento Kings, that has helped it become more of a destination for arts, entertainment and food.

Sacramento City Manager Walter Slipe, left, confers with Councilman Joe Serna during a city council meeting in November 1989. Slipe, who served as Sacramento’s city manager between 1976 and 1993, survived many years of changing council members. He died June 14 at the age of 90.
Sacramento City Manager Walter Slipe, left, confers with Councilman Joe Serna during a city council meeting in November 1989. Slipe, who served as Sacramento’s city manager between 1976 and 1993, survived many years of changing council members. He died June 14 at the age of 90.

Phil Isenberg was mayor when Slipe became city manager. Isenberg said Thursday picking him for the position was “the council’s smartest move.” Slipe, he said, helped navigate the city through tough times, including the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, which limited property tax revenue.

“His tenure says it all,” said Bill Edgar, who worked as an assistant city manager under Slipe. He later succeeded him in the role. “He was able to weather those storms.”

Those storms included criticism that Slipe was too secretive with information and deliberate with his decisions. A failed deal to bring the then-Los Angeles Raiders to Sacramento led to complaints about his performance, as did his dealings with developers. He survived attempts by some city council members to oust him from his job.

One of the developers he was particularly close with was Gregg Lukenbill, a part-owner of the Kings when the team moved to Sacramento.

“I was nobody without Walter Slipe,” he said.

Walter Slipe sits at his post in City Council chambers in an undated photo. The city’s second-longest city manager, who oversaw rapid growth of the capital city between 1976 and 1993, died June 14 at the age of 90.
Walter Slipe sits at his post in City Council chambers in an undated photo. The city’s second-longest city manager, who oversaw rapid growth of the capital city between 1976 and 1993, died June 14 at the age of 90.

Walter James Slipe was born on March 13, 1933, in New York. His father was a chauffeur and his mother was a homemaker. He grew up in Long Island and later graduated with an economics degree from Columbia University, according to a family obituary.

Slipe was drafted into the Army in the 1950s and served for three years. He worked in counterintelligence and as a paratrooper. He received a master’s degree in city planning from the University of California, Berkeley, the obituary said.

Lukenbill said Slipe’s background in both economics and city planning made him an effective leader. He had a “national vision” for Sacramento that helped shape the city into what it is today, he said.

Adding: “He really was a world-class city manager.”

Despite his large role, Slipe was described as quiet and restrained.

“Walt would be exasperated at people but he would never let it show,” Isenberg said.

Retiring Sacramento city manager Walter Slipe was given a retirement dinner and roast at the Community Center, attended by a large crowd of friends, family and co-workers. Prior to the dinner Slipe spoke to many of the attendees including former city fire chief Ray Charles. Walter Slipe died June 14 at his home in Granite Bay. He was 90.
Retiring Sacramento city manager Walter Slipe was given a retirement dinner and roast at the Community Center, attended by a large crowd of friends, family and co-workers. Prior to the dinner Slipe spoke to many of the attendees including former city fire chief Ray Charles. Walter Slipe died June 14 at his home in Granite Bay. He was 90.

Even when he really liked something, he was careful to not display too much emotion. It was a trait he learned from his mother, said Dean, his granddaughter.

If he said something “wasn’t bad,” it was considered a high compliment. Still, there were many things he enjoyed doing.

Dean, 34, recalled spending evenings with Slipe and his wife, Marilyn. They would talk over pizza and watch movies together.

He especially liked Humphrey Bogart and would often listen to jazz and Frank Sinatra. He and Dean had a friendly competition over who would get to lie on the floaty in the pool.

“He always had a tough outer shell, but when you got to know him he had a soft side that not a lot of people got to see,” Dean said.

Slipe is survived by Marilyn, two children, three step-children, 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Dean was not related to Slipe by blood, but said her grandfather treated her as if she was. When Dean graduated from college, Slipe took her back to New York for a trip. They visited his old home and Columbia together.

Still, Slipe could be private with those he was closest with.

On his 80th birthday he went skydiving. Dean and other family members only learned about it after the fact.

“We were mortified,” Dean said.