Max Edward Haptonstahl

1950 - 2020

SAN FRANCISCO - Max Edward Haptonstahl, 69, San Francisco, formerly of Galesburg, Illinois, died Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Daly City, California.

Max was born Aug. 3, 1950, in Emmetsburg, Iowa, to O.R. (Hap) and Helen (O'Donnell) Haptonstahl. He was the sixth of their 10 children. His parents and his brother John preceded him in death.

He is survived by four sisters, Terry (Jim) Jackson of Galesburg, Eden Winter of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Josephine Haptonstahl of Galesburg and Susie (Lee Bursi) Haptonstahl of Springfield, Illinois: four brothers, Steve (Tommi) of Cumberland, Maryland, Jim (Michele) of Oak Park, Illinois, Paul of Springfield and Mike (Denise) of Galesburg. Max is also survived by his San Francisco family, his dear friend Barbara Vander Borght and her daughter Mieke (Davide). He leaves behind many nieces and nephews, and a cadre of close co-workers that he considered family.

Max graduated from Costa High School in 1968 and Knox College in 1972 with a degree in art education. He set off for Boston, where he worked with individuals with developmental disabilities. Max continued that work in San Francisco for several years in recreation therapy and as a founding member of the Theatre Unlimited, an acting ensemble comprised of disabled and able actors.
He pursued his artistic ambitions while helping to coordinate the Unity Fairs in San Francisco from 1975 to 1977. Max was a prolific and talented artist, and those who own his sculptures, sketches, prints and paintings treasure his work.

After getting his elementary teaching credentials at San Francisco State University in 1980, Max taught first through sixth grades in San Francisco and Chicago. In 1991, Max began his work with the Mobile Assistance Patrol (MAP) of Community Awareness and Treatment Services (CATS) in San Francisco. His mission of saving the homeless and the addicted was directly related to his own experiences, and Max was a tireless crusader. He rose to the position of supervisor and was a role model as well as a caring mentor and friend to many of his co-workers. Later, Max was the information technology administrator at CATS. Max ended his career of helping others with his final position in 2019, assisting with technology at the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation.

Max bore more than a physical resemblance to his maternal great-grandfather, John O'Donnell. Just as John was described in his obituary 120 years ago, Max "dared to express his opinion on any subject disregarding circumstances, if in his view he thought he was in the right." And like John, Max "was a profound advocate of the promotion of education, and the rights justice and of thoughtfulness."

The family will hold a private memorial service later this summer. Gifts of kindness, love and tolerance to all may be made in honor of Max. Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.