On the morning of October 10, 2025, Ipsen staff and special guests gathered to dedicate the Ipsen Memorial Garden in memory of employees who have passed away over the past 25 years. The special guests included friends and family of those being commemorated at the site.
A brick footpath leads to the memorial stone, standing in the center of three concrete benches, with a plaque bearing the names of those who have gone but will never be forgotten. A gingko tree has been planted not only to provide shade to visitors, but also to symbolize hope, endurance, and rebirth.
Ipsen CEO Geoffrey Somary greeted the gathered crowd at the foot of the path. “I had the good fortune to know many of the Ipsen team members whose names are listed on this plaque. The lessons I learned from many of them still live inside me today.”
Somary expressed gratitude for the ways those memorialized influenced the direction of the company, helping leadership reframe their viewpoints and advocating for both Ipsen and its customers. “I had much to learn from these specific people, and those lessons made me wiser.”
The lasting influence of those memorialized is reflected in Ipsen’s success and its role in shaping the modern world. “The accomplishments of the workers at Ipsen have made possible advancements in humanity,” Somary continued, noting Ipsen’s influence on air travel, satellite development, information technology, and biotechnology.
“We helped each other when we were down, we raised money for important charities and shared a laugh when laughs were sorely needed. And while doing this, changed the world together making it a better and safer place. Bigger than the company, bigger than the name Ipsen, will always be those team members who work here,” Somary concluded.
After a moment of silence, employees and guests were invited to lay a carnation in remembrance on the memorial stone, followed by fellowship and a lunch served inside Ipsen’s showroom.
The Ipsen Memorial Garden is located near the northeast corner of the Ipsen Cherry Valley location at 984 Ipsen Rd., Cherry Valley, IL 61016. Visitors to the memorial gardens are welcome during normal business hours.
