Herman Harold Rappaport

Rappaport, Herman Harold
September 24, 1916 - July 4, 2010
Herman Rappaport dies at 93;
Herman H. Rappaport, a prominent Los Angeles entrepreneur known for innovative projects in real estate, health care and public service who was active in business ventures until recently, has died. He was 93.Rappaport died July 4 at his home in Century City of complications related to cancer, said his daughter, Susan.
He has been a participant, in at the beginning of world influences, from atomic science at the start of the Manhattan Project to pioneering the expansion of McDonald Drive-Ins coast to coast to the use of air right for urban develop to presidential advisor. Most recently, Mr. Rappaport is the author of "A Life of Creative Business", an autobiography that outlines how the application of management engineering principles enabled him to move successfully through many careers in multiple industries. The Congressional Record of the 90th US Congress honored Rappaport reporting his forward-looking vision, stating, "Mr. Rappaport is a man whose creativity at any given moment is about a generation ahead of everyone else".
He was born Herman Harold Rappaport on September 24, 1916 in New Haven, Connecticut, the oldest of 5 children of Rea and Morris Rappaport. He met Rhoda Knecht and they were married for 67 yrs until her passing in 2007.
Rappaport's career spanned decades, starting with earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemical Engineering from the College of New York. Over his lifetime the experiences he spoke about most were varied and displayed the foundation and evolution of his creative thinking abilities. He was a mechanical engineer for the U.S. Navy's expansion of France Air Field and the submarine base at Coco Solo, Canal Zone, Panama. Worked for Standard Oil of New Jersey and Bechtel Corporation on the design of industrial plants including a Hills Brothers soluble coffee plant, Kennecott Copper refinery and a synthetic detergent plant for Lever Brothers; Engineer on the Manhattan Project, first at Columbia University, then as a coordinator for General Electric on its mass spectrometer production and finally at Oak Ridge, Tennessee in charge of the Special Analysis Laboratory. One of the largest builders of McDonalds Restaurants in the United States. Owner and developer of Civic Center Law Buildings high rise Complex in downtown Los Angeles, as well as commercial shopping development and industrial factories and plants. Developer of first long range urban planning programs for Beverly Hills Air Rights Plan adopted in Chicago, Manila and elsewhere. Advisor on Foreign Trade to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Administration through the administrations of Presidents Reagan, and Bush; Member of U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Commission on Mass Transportation concerned federal budgets for the nation's airlines, railroads, and national highways, appointed by Pres. Nixon.
Survived by his daughter Susan (Stephen) Grandchildren Mitchel (Rena) and Bethany and two great-grandchildren, Michael and Lauren, his sister Sonya.

He created, taught and contributed much to his family, community and nation. We treasure and do him great honor by continuing with his example. Private services have been held. Family requests donations to the Jewish Healing Center of Los Angeles 10573 W. Pico Blvd., Suite 850 Los Angeles, CA 90064.