David A. Rapant

Cobleskill- David A. Rapant, 51, of Mineral Springs Road, died Good Friday, April 22, 2011 at his residence with his loving family at his side. Born February 23, 1960 in Burlington, VT, he was the son of Frank and Arlene (Hummel) Rapant, Jr. Dave was a 1978 graduate of the former Cobleskill Central School and had most recently been employed with Schoharie County Head Start as a classroom aide/teacher. Prior to this he was a body shop manager and painter for several capital district automobile dealerships. A man of talent, he enjoyed custom painting motorcycles for which he was honored to earn credit for in two magazines. Dave had restored the carriage house on the Swissland Farm, where he and his family lived and cared for their horses. He also volunteered with the therapeutic riding program at SUNY Cobleskill. Dave restored antique cars and was a judge at the NYS Power Authority Car Shows. He was a communicant at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Cobleskill and was active with volunteer work at his church as well as doing maintenance. Dave was also a volunteer at Ryder Elementary School in Cobleskill, helping with the cafeteria lunch program and the school reading programs. Survivors include his wife, Audrey (Fairbairn) Rapant, whom he married August 11, 1984; two daughters: Allison and Amanda Rapant, both of Cobleskill; his mother, Arlene Rapant of Cobleskill; his father, Frank Rapant, Jr. of Newcomb, NY; step-mother, Kitty Rapant of Burtonsville, NY; three brothers: Frank (Trish) Rapant, III of Nassau, NY, Freddy (Jacquie) Rapant of Scotia, NY, and Timothy (Susan) Rapant of Thousand Islands; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 138 Washington Ave., Cobleskill with Father Thomas Holmes as celebrant. A reception will follow the Mass in the church social hall. Burial will be private. The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Rapant Children College Fund, care of Bank of Richmondville, 857 E. Main St., Cobleskill, NY 12043, Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 795 E. Main St., Suite 11, Cobleskill, NY 12043, or Catholic Charities of Schoharie County, 489 W. Main St., Cobleskill, NY 12043. Arrangements have been entrusted to Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill and Palmer & Shaylor Funeral Home of Middleburgh. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.merenessputnamfuneralhome.com.