Louis E. Nippert was the great-grandson of James Gamble, one of the founders of the Procter and Gamble company. Known for his calm demeanor and philanthropic heart, Louis Nippert was a lifelong sports fan. He played football alongside his older brother James during their time at the University of Cincinnati, but tragically that time was cut short when James died of a football-related injury in 1923. The Nippert family, though understandably devastated, provided the university with $250,000 to complete a new stadium which was named Nippert Field in James’ honor. This new stadium featured medical facilities to ensure the safety of all its athletes.
Mary Louise Dieterle, known as Liesel to her close friends, was a fourth-generation Cincinnatian and also graduated from the University of Cincinnati. She studied voice and piano at the university’s College-Conservatory of Music and performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 1957. Her love of music and the arts were life-long passions, and she donated generously to arts organizations during her long life.
The couple married in 1935 and continued their legacy of philanthropy. Both Nipperts were humble, modest, and even secretive at times about their many contributions.
Mr. Nippert inherited the Pacetti Hotel – and a large part of his fortune – from his aunt Olivia Gamble, who did not have children of her own. Like Olivia, the Nipperts did not actually live in this building. By the time the couple took ownership of this hotel in 1968, it had long since become a private winter retreat rather than functioning business. Thus, this building became the winter guest home for the Nipperts.
They hired a local couple, Billy Joe Potts and Ann Caneer, to take care of the property while they were away. The Nipperts oversaw many changes and improvements to the Pacetti Hotel site during their ownership. These changes included the addition of two sheds and a garage, the rebuilding of the dock, a new side porch, the addition of interior closets, and the closing off of two rooms and a bathroom near the rear of the building to create a suite for them to stay in during their visits.
In 1966, the Nipperts purchased a share in the Cincinnati Reds baseball team, and by 1973, they became the majority owners of the team. The Reds were National League champions in 1975 and won the World Series that year. They repeated this success in 1976. The Nipperts accompanied the ‘Big Red Machine’ as they traveled to Tampa, Florida, each year for spring training and then hosted parties for the team at the Pacetti Hotel. In 1981, the Nipperts sold their controlling interest in the team, but retained minority ownership until Louis’ death in 1992. They were also briefly part owners of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.
Towards the end of their lives, the Nipperts established the Greenacres Foundation in order to manage their philanthropy sustainably. This foundation was dedicated to the arts, education, conservation, and research. Following Mrs. Nippert’s death in 2012, the foundation contemplated what to do with the Pacetti Hotel property. The site was eventually sold to the Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association in 2019.
