Valerie Klipsch was born Valerie Antoinette Simkovits in Vienna , Austria . She began studying piano at the age of five. Though she studied at the Vienna Academy of Music and Performing Arts and in London at the Elizabeth Conservatory on a full scholarship won in a competition, her goal was not to be a performer, but a teacher. She came to the United States in 1946 and had a career teaching not only music, but also French and German. Music and teaching have been the guiding passions of her life; passions that she shared with her husband Paul Wilber Klipsch.
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Mrs. Klipsch has kept those passions alive as a friend and generous supporter of New Mexico State University 's College Engineering, where Paul earned a B.S and a Ph.D. Paul is one of America 's most celebrated audio pioneers, revolutionizing acoustics during his career. Together, the Klipschs have given considerable support to NMSU, which has named the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering after them. Additionally, the Klipschs have established seven endowed scholarships and two department professorships over the years.
Since Paul's passing in 2002, Mrs. Klipsch has continued generous support and has established the Paul W. Klipsch Museum at NMSU as a loving tribute to her husband. She has graciously donated a considerable amount of memorabilia from the audio engineering field spanning more than eight decades. The museum perpetuates the memory of the renowned engineer through a dynamic and continuing celebration of his accomplishments. NMSU is grateful for her steadfast support and generosity.
Valerie Klipsch was inducted into the New Mexico State University Circle of Honor on October 28, 2005 during Homecoming.
