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BORN
1925
DIED
2014
Maurice LAPP Memoriam
Still teaching part time at the college until last year, and painting in his home studio every day until early this year, Lapp spent his life devoted to his art and his students, his friends and family said.
"As a teacher, until the very end, Maury expressed an interest in and an appreciation for his students," said Scott Lipanovich, curator of the Doyle Library art collection at the college, which includes Lapp's work.
As a painter, Lapp staged one-man shows in San Francisco at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in 1956 and 1968, and at the de Young Museum in 1962. Lapp was represented by the George Krevsky Gallery in San Francisco, which also exhibited his work.
The artist's best-known works were his vivid paintings of the San Francisco cityscape, particularly its coffeehouses.
Several decades ago, San Francisco poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, founder of the landmark City Lights bookstore, noticed Lapp setting up his easel on city streets and asked Lapp to paint a picture of the North beach shop.
The two became friends, meeting often for coffee in the city, said Ferlinghetti, who admired Lapp for his lifelong commitment to improving his work.
"He was still developing as a painter" at the end of his life, Ferlinghetti said.
Lapp, born in Chicago on June 17, 1925, came to Santa Rosa Junior College in 1956 after receiving his master of fine arts degree from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago.
After retiring from the junior college faculty in 1991, he continued to teach there part time, with some of his former students returning to study with him from all over the Bay Area.
"Maury tried to infuse, in his students' work and his own, a feeling of poetic imagery," Lipanovich said. "To him, it was crucial not to simply replicate an object or landscape, but to try to give it a touch of magic."
Lapp married his wife, Frances, in 1954 and they raised two sons together. Frances died in 2005.
"My dad had quite a work ethic," said his son, Michael Lapp, of Princeton, N.J. "He was very determined and absolutely dedicated, as an artist and a teacher."
In addition to his son Michael, Lapp is survived by his son Benjamin Lapp of The Bronx, N.Y., and three grandchildren. A memorial celebration of Lapp's life is planned for later this summer.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Maurice LAPP
Ron Jennings
August 13, 2019
I attended Santa Rosa JC in the early Seventies and was fortunate to have had a class.with Mr. Lamp which I thoroughly enjoyed. He was a passionate instructor and a beautiful human being.
Linda Locke
June 27, 2014
Maury was always a friend and mentor
Brian Barclay
June 25, 2014
Cummings Drive was quite a street on which to grow up. There was an amazing mix of musicians, scholars, and artists all of whom just happened to live on the street. I did not understand as a youngster how accomplished Maury was. He was just the kindly neighbor, totally unassuming, always pleasant and cheerful. He seemed interested in my brother Bruce and me as we aspired to be musicians. He would go for walks in the neighborhood, but pause outside our house to soak up the sounds while we were practicing. I always felt like I had better practice well, because Mr. Lapp might be out there listening! Special times, a special street, and a very special man. Condolences and best wishes to Michael and Benjamin.
Mary Durney
June 23, 2014
Dear Lapp Family,
My deepest felt sympathy for the loss of your wonderful father. He was a teacher and human being who made a lasting impression on me in a number of parts of my life. His wonderful attitude of positive outlook and courage in the face of creativity inspired me. I always remember this one quote for some reason.."Mary just always remember to look for the straights within the curves" !. I look forward to learning if there will be a memorial that I can attend.
Please send any info re memorial or sales of work to: Mary Durney
[email protected]
or PO Box, 474, Penngrove, CA 94951 Thanks
PS I had the pleasure of publishing some of maury's oils of North Beach as notecards
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Betty Becker Little
June 10, 2014
I first met Maury in the early 80's. My husband, John Becker, had a store in North Beach, SF called Poor Taste. One Sat or Sun morning (after being up late the night before)we were awakened by a phone call from our store manager Doug Stow, who was opening up for the day. He said: "John, there is a man painting the store."
" The landlord didn't tell me the building was going to be painted!"
"No, John, he is painting an oil painting of the store." We tumbled out of bed, dressed, trotted the 3 blocks to the our corner location at Grant and Filbert without breakfast and met Maury Lapp. This began one of the dearest friendships of all the years I lived in SF. That painting of Poor Taste's store front was the first of several of Maury's that we were privileged to own. Over the years we got to know Fran and met Michael and Ben. They may not remember us but Maury would always keep us updated on their college studies, marriage,and grand children over the years. Then I got to meet his formal teacherly self by taking several of his adult classes. Maury always made on feel loved, not with the fickleness of affection for personality, but the deep, clear eyed, unsentimental love of mankind's potential locked away inside each of us. His point was always--don't waste it--get busy expressing it, giving it to others. Some times I would quietly keep him company when he was painting on the streets in SF, being a go-fer or watching his easel while he went off for a break. I treasured being allowed to be there with him, quiet company without added distraction. He would always have a recent picture of Rosy and later her sister to show. He told of he and Rosy (when 8 or 10) going on a museum day together for the first time. The joy and reverence on his face at life giving him a chance to walk through the door to the love of art with her will always be cherished by me. When my husband John passed in '03 he wrote me, encouraging ly to hold in my heart that I would, in time, be able to go forward with my life and creativity. I only got to see him 2 or 3 times after that.
He taught courage by example. His fearless precision in his critique of student's work, taught courage to accept analysis and move forward. He always said it in a way that made you want to dive into the ideas he gave you. Thank you to his family for sharing him with so many of us.
Barb Emerson
June 10, 2014
A gentle soul and the best art teacher ever. I took his adult education classes in drawing and watercolor repeatedly and learned something new each time. An amazing intelligent artist who never stopped painting.
Jim Alvarez
June 7, 2014
Mr. Lapp was my art teacher for many classes back in 1968 and 69. It was an honor to have him as a teacher. This man loved what he did, loved to teach and always treated each student with respect, patience and humor. RIP Mr. Lapp.
Ruth Cisco
June 5, 2014
He was my teacher in 1985,86,87 and a good friend,I enjoyed photographing him and I will miss his sweet smile. He encouraged me to never give up on my art of Photography.
Bill Pola
June 4, 2014
I'll share a story. I had Prof. Lapp for a beginning art class in '83ish. I remembered the class fondly, but I was no artist. FF to '91 and I was bebopping around SF and I ran into him on the sidewalk in North Beach painting Caffe Treiste. I stopped to chat with him for awhile. Lots going on in my life then and it was a help to chat with someone from home. RIP.
Karen Misuraca
June 4, 2014
Our beloved Maury taught 3 generations of our family and became a close friend, mentor, and always an inspiration to all of us. We have his vibrant paintings on our walls -- miss him.
June 4, 2014
He was my teacher in 1965 and I will never forget him. Wonderful man.
Lorraine Tunzi
June 3, 2014
A wonderful man who touched so many lives.
Dorr Eddy
June 3, 2014
I will miss Maury. I was looking fwd to being his volunteer model for just one more head drawing class. It was my chance to sorta "give back" something to art. Maury made that possible. I learned much about how to be a better person just observing how he taught. He inspired so many young students to continue painting. What a wonderful legacy.
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