Robert Rapp

Robert Rapp passed away on April 14, 2018 in Ann Arbor, just a few days shy of his 97th birthday. He was born in the hospital at Reading, Pennsylvania on April 22, 1921. He grew up as part of a family of four. His mother was an excellent cook who was also known for her green thumb, his father was a dentist, and his older brother grew up to be a physician practicing orthopedic surgery in the south. Bob was raised in the urban center of Reading among neighbors, predominately physicians and dentists. From the age of 8, he spent summers in a second family home on farmland on Rapp Road near New Jerusalem, northeast of Reading. He graduated from Reading High School and continued his education at Ursinus College where he met Anne, his lifelong wife. Bob then continued to Temple University Medical School in Philadelphia, becoming a member of the Babcock Honor Society and a physician during the war years of the 1940s. He was stationed at an army hospital as a radiologist after an internship and training in Reading. There were two good years in Germany as a Lieutenant followed by an army discharge allowing more radiology training time at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, where he was known for becoming a diplomat of radiology. He stayed on the hospital staff in the radiology department for 50 years. In 1953 he was appointed to a dual appointment as Director of Radiology at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Ann Arbor, a position he held for 26 years. He served under 5 chairs of the Department of Radiology at the University of Michigan, beginning with Dr. Hodges and ending under Dr. Dunnick. The friendship of alumni employees, and staff was especially cherished by Bob. Bob’s mentorship meant very much to many people over the years.

Although originally from the East, Bob loved living in Michigan and especially enjoyed all of the years spent with Anne in their custom-designed home at the end of Cedar Bend Drive, where he lived until July of last year. He and Anne spent time in the summer in the Upper Peninsula and various other locations up north. He was a lover of the outdoors, and especially enjoyed fishing. He was known for his generous personality, his sense of humor, and his remarkable and natural artistic skill for making all sorts of things from scratch.

Bob is survived by his wife Anne.