Richard Rapp

He was my advisor back in the early 60's. He was instrumental in my transferring from an engineering major to a Geodetic Science major. I consequently got my degree in Geodetic Science, travelled the world working for The Defense Mapping Agency, and having a wonderful life. Dr Rapp was my mentor and I carried his book on "Adjustment Computations" everywhere, and I still have it.
Gus Jones class of 1967

Until today many words have - rightly so - devoted to Prof. Rapp's qualities as a teacher and researcher. I agree with all of them. One aspect has been underexposed. It was my first year at DoGS at OSU (1972-1973). While I was working on Prof. Rapp's assignment to investigate the (scale?) behavior of one of the conformal mappings, I noticed that my class mates were writing Fortran programs that were looking at every variable parameter imaginable. With my - obviously too large - course load...

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Dick's open door and enthusiasm for the topics he taught were highly impactful to those of us learning from him. He inspired me, and I'm sure many others, to follow our interests with rigor.

I met Dick Rapp in 1962 when we were both working at Ohio State University. He gave life to my dry formulas by applying them to real data.
He was one of the great international geodesists.
I remember him with gratitude.
Helmut Moritz
Grraz, Austria

Dick's passing away makes me very sad. He was a great scientist and gifted teacher alike, but above all he was a wonderful friend.
My sympathy is with his wife Pat and his entire family.
Hans Sünkel
Graz, Austria

Dick's passing away makes me very sad. He was a great scientist and a gifted teacher alike, but above all he was a wonderful friend.
My sympathy is with his wife Pat and the entire family.

Hans Sünkel
Friend and colleague
Graz, Austria

I am very sad after learning about the loss of Dick Rapp. He was an exceptional teacher and researcher with a phenomenal sense for the handling of real data. Although my time in the Department of Geodetic Science at The Ohio State University was only short and is now a long time ago, it was influential for my whole professional live. I still remember many details from the time with Dick Rapp and all the other people in the department and will always keep these beautiful memories in my mind,...

September 29, 2020

I am terribly saddened on my highly respected colleague's passing. I consider Professor Dick Rapp one of the scientists and mentors who significantly impacted me professionally. 23 years ago, I have the fortune to overlap with him, and learn from him, after he just retired from the Ohio State University, but decided to stay awhile before he moved to SC. He was one of the giants and faces in Geodesy, representing the Ohio State University's Department of...