Richard Paul Ruppel

60s were really tough for me. I was a teenager. Everybody kinda wrote me off As a guy That was not going to amount too much. High school was horrible for me. Mr. Ruple could see through it you could see I wasn´t a bad guy just confused. I loved going auto shop There was a warmth there I never found again. He was a great man

Dick Ruppel was a great inspirational teacher and a mentor to me.
He was a very caring and passionate person.
After 3 years in his Automotive classes, and as his aid in my junior and senior years, his A grades, allowed me a high enough GPA to apply to College. After obtaining degrees in engineering, and business. it took an extra year to obtain a Industrial Art teaching credential.
I taught High School Automotive's and Vocational ROP for five years.
I then began careers as a...

Mr. Ruppel made a positive impact on my life in high school. As one of the few girls who took his class he always made me feel just as capable as anyone else in the class. I was truly blessed to have him as a teacher (and my dad too!) I think of him often as my train passes by his auto shop in Burlingame. Sending prayers and strength to his family and loved ones.

Because of Mr. Ruppel I went to San Jose State and became an Auto Shop teacher in Santa Clare Unified School District for 36 years. I taught at Wilcox, Peterson and Buchner High Schools. I used his money system for grading and discipline. I subbed for Mr. Ruppel after I got out of college during the spring semester of 1972. He gave me a copy of each of his packets that he used with flexible scheduling in the late 60s thru the early 70s. They were very helpful to me as a new teacher. My wife...

Condolences to his family. Always enjoyed talking with Dick and Ginni at the many Relay For Life events here in Healdsburg. He always had a smile on his face. Caroline Marker

I had Mr. Ruppel ar Aragon HS in 1976-77. He was a great teacher and I can still hear him yelling at the end of class on who was to pick up tools, rags etc. I still use what he taught to this day. I was sad to hear if his passing but he had a great life and I hope he is with his old Barracuda in the sky!