Jerry Lapin

1935 - 2024

Gerald "Jerry" Lapin passed away in Tucson, Arizona on April 4, 2024. He was 88 years old. Jerry was born in Miami and moved to Tucson with his parents as a young boy. He worked for his parents in Tucson Leather Company, the store and warehouse they'd founded on 4th Street. He ultimately bought the store from his parents and he and Anne ran the business for about 30 years. When they retired, they sold the business to their son, Scott, who had followed his father into the business many years earlier. Jerry loved sports and competitions of any kind and was very sociable. As a young man, he served in the Korean War in the US Air Force as an unexploded ordinance expert. During the 6 months of each year that he was outside of Korea, Jerry played tennis on the US Air Force team out of Japan. He had the opportunity to play against the greats of his era such as Rod Laver and Arthur Ashe. Later in life, he ran a marathon, biked, and played poker. After he retired, Jerry took up golf and table tennis. He qualified for and competed in the Senior Olympics both at the state and national levels. Throughout his life, Jerry was an excellent bowler and he loved to fish. He maintained his connections to his friends through monthly class reunions with the Tucson High Class of 1953. He always had a smile and a joke ready for whoever he might meet. Shortly before his death Jerry was still bowling on two leagues. Jerry was buried in the Anshei Israel section of Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson on April 8, 2024. Jerry was predeceased by his beloved wife, Anne, and is survived by his beloved children, Scott, and Samantha (formerly Sheri) and his son-in-law, Dale Atkinson. Please make donations in honor of Jerry to Congregation Anshei Israel.