Obituaries

Longtime Putnam Resident Dies at 88

Services are slated for Thursday and Friday.

 provided the following information:

Richard L. Rapp, age 88 of Brewster, died Monday in Carmel after a long illness.

Rapp was born March 7, 1923 in the Bronx, son of the late Frederick and Lillian (Benner) Rapp. He moved to Carmel in 1932, then graduated from Purdy’s High School in 1941. He served with the Army’s 1252nd Army Air Force Base Unit as a staff sergeant from 1943 to 1946. When he returned home he received his B.S. from Spring Field College, his master's from Columbia University and his professional diploma in administration from Columbia.

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On Sept. 1, 1947, he married Rita O’Hara in in Brewster. They lived in Brewster and MRapp started his teaching career at in 1949. He eventually became the second elementary school principal in Brewster, until 1969, when he left to become the principal at Brookside Elementary School in Yorktown. He worked there until he retire in 1973. He was a co-owner of Scout Realty in Brewster, and for 19 years, was the town justice for the Town of Southeast.

Rapp was also a member and past president of the Brewster Lions Club, life member of Putnam County Fish and Game Association, member of the , life member of the New York State Magistrates Association, past board member of Green Chimneys School, Putnam County Board of Realtors, and Brewster Boy Scouts. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, who loved his vegetable garden and enjoyed cooking.

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Besides his wife Rita, he is survived by his two sons, Richard Rapp (Kathleen) of Brewster and Michael Rapp (Mary Beth) of Pawling; a sister, Madeline Schneckner of Denver; and two grandchildren, Christina and Kevin Cody. He was predeceased by his brothers Frederick and Robert Rapp.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at Beecher Funeral Home (1 Putnam Avenue) in Brewster. Internment will follow in St. Lawrence O’Toole Cemetery in Brewster. Calling hours are scheduled for 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Beecher's.

Contributions in Rapp's memory may be made to Guiding Eyes for the Blind.


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