John J Rapalus

John J. (Jack) Rapalus, formerly of Longmeadow MA, Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing in Springfield, MA, and West Yarmouth MA, passed away peacefully surrounded by his three loving daughters on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at the age of 91. Jack grew up in Easthampton, MA and was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in Business Administration and later earned his MBA from American International College. It was at UMASS where he met the love of his life, Elizabeth (Donahue). Post-graduation, he was commissioned an officer in the United States Air Force, assigned to the National Security Agency headquarters in Washington, D.C.. Upon discharge from active-duty service, he served in the Air Force Reserve for 20 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
In civilian life Jack began his business career as a Real Estate Officer and Corporator of the former Springfield Institution for Savings (SIS), now TD Bank. Subsequently, he joined Springfield Central as a Project Manager for the development of Baystate West, now known as Tower Square in Springfield. He next served as the Owner’s Representative and Project Coordinator for the development and management of a 250-unit housing complex in Springfield, MA. Jack returned to the commercial side of real estate by joining Olympia & York as the Manager of One Financial Plaza’s Springfield office. He was promoted to the position of Area Manager overseeing the management of two high rise office buildings in Hartford, CT, as well as the Springfield property. During semi-retirement Jack drew upon his college Marketing major and was an account manager for Reminder Publications in East Longmeadow and later served as Marketing Coordinator for the Holyoke/Chicopee Chamber of Commerce annual business show.
Jack was a communicant and usher at Saint Mary’s Parish in Longmeadow for 50 years. He was past president of the Longmeadow Men’s Club, past president of the Center School PTO and a life member of the Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee. He enjoyed tennis, sailing, skiing, theater, and dancing. He was a devoted New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, and Celtics fan, enjoyed his poker groups, doing crossword puzzles and watching Jeopardy. He loved and was known for telling jokes. As one of his grandsons put it so well, “Grandpa Jack brought humor and happiness to the holiday table.”
He dearly loved and missed his wife, Elizabeth (Bette), to whom he was married to for 57 years and pre deceased him in 2012. Jack will be greatly missed by many and will be remembered as a kind, caring and appreciative man.
He leaves behind his daughters, Lynne (Scott) Freeman, of Beverly, MA, Diane Beir of Avon, CT, Jane (David) Ruediger of Concord, MA, and 7 grandchildren (Alex, Meredith, Kara, Scott, Michael, Christopher and Kathryn).
Funeral service for Jack is private and burial will follow in Longmeadow Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers and in Jack’s memory, donations can be made to Baystate Hospice or to the Wounded Warrior Project.