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RAPAPORT -- Louise Eleanor Rapaport, nee Brock, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut on August 9, 1922. Her parents moved to Pasadena, California when she was a year old. She graduated Pasadena City College and the Woodbury Business College and worked with a team upgrading the firepower system of the B-29 bomber at the close of WWII. An adventurous person, in 1947 she acquired a run down Indian trading post 10 miles west of Grants, NM which she and her parents renovated, including adding a restaurant. She became conversant in Navajo and an expert in appraising Indian jewelry and rugs. In 1952 she married Rusty Rapaport, a geological engineer with the Atomic Energy Commission, who later founded the Four Corners Exploration Co. Housing and funds were scarce and they moved to a small trailer without electricity or running water miles from any human habitation in the company of wild horses, deer and elk, bobcats, cougars, quail and rattlesnakes. The company was successful and in stark contrast to the trailer, they rented an apartment overlooking Central Park while Rusty pursued graduate studies at Columbia University. Louise energetically pursued self improvement: spent a month with her art teacher, Irene Bradford, and 3 Grants friends painting in Mexico. She also attended the Instituto at San Miguel de Allende studying Spanish. She was dedicated to public service throughout her life. In Grants she was an active member of the Pilot Club, Beta Sigma Phi, the Womens' Auxiliary of the Institute of Mining and Petroleum Engineers and was in charge of the improvement of the Grants Cemetery. In Albuquerque she belonged to the Petrol Club, the Garden Club, the Tennis Club and spent more than 20 years working two days a week at the Blue Portal in Old Town for the Assistance League. Although they were able to spend extensive time traveling to Europe and Latin America in later years, the views from a dilapidated trailer of Mount Taylor remained fondly engraved in her mind. Louise is survived by her husband, Rusty, three daughters and a son: Janna, an architect in Santa Fe and Lima, Peru; Lisa, a professor at Clemson University, South Carolina; Laurel, Director of Nursing at Vista Taos; Eric, a musician and computer programmer in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is survived by a brother, Clarence in San Dimas, California. She has three grandchildren: Marcel, Joaquin, and Hannah Claire. Louise was the epitome of the term "a good woman". After life's fitful fever she sleeps well. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 22, 2011, 11:00 a.m., at French - University Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Assistance League of Albuquerque Inc., 529 Chama St. NE, 87108. Please visit the online guestbook for Louise at: www.RememberTheirStory.com. FRENCH 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333
        Published on: Sat January 22, 2011