Harris Alan Lappin

Dr. Harris Alan Lappin died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving family and with his beloved Broadway songs playing, at 12 Noon on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at the age of 68. Visitation will be on Monday, July 30, 2012 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana from 11 am until services at 2 pm conducted by Rabbi Jordan Goldson. Internment will be in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Born in Jersey City, NJ on August 31, 1943 to Beatrice Friedman Lappin and Raymond King Lappin, he grew up in Linden, NJ. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, JoAnn LaPorte Lappin; sons Mark Alan Lappin, Baton Rouge, Michael Jay Lappin and partner John West of Atlanta, Georgia and Nathan Seth Lappin and his wife, Stacy, and their children Raymond, Olivia and Samuel of Puyallup, Washington. He is also survived by a brother, Gary Mark Lappin and his wife, Karen, and their children Rachel, Kyle and Alexa of Huntington Woods, Michigan. Also left to treasure his memory are his devoted mother-in-law and father-inlaw Thomas A. and Anna Mae Cascio LaPorte, Sr. Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, were his sister, Sharon Lynne Lappin and her infant daughter, Lois Ann Parker. After graduating from Linden High School, Dr. Lappin received a B.A. from New York University's Washington Square College of Arts and Science and a Doctor of Medicine from State University of New York "“ Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine. He completed an internship at King's County Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY under the direction of Dr. Ludwig Eichna, a residency at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) under the direction of Dr. Lloyd H. Smith and a Cardiology Fellowship at UCSF under the direction of Dr. Maurice Sokolow and Dr. William Parmley. Dr. Lappin was most proud of his military service and served as a United States Air Force Captain during the Vietnam War. While stationed at Warner Robbins Air Force Base (Warner Robbins, GA), he practiced medicine as a pediatrician and an allergist. He resigned his commission as a Major in 1972. Board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Dr. Lappin came to Baton Rouge in 1975 to begin his private practice of interventional cardiology. In 1977, he partnered with Dr. David W. Wall and together they founded Louisiana Cardiology Associates (LCA). He was well known and respected throughout the medical community for his dedication to and his passion for providing state-of-the-art, patient-centered cardiology care. Dr. Lappin performed the first coronary angioplasty in Baton Rouge in 1981. His commitment to providing excellence in cardiovascular care was demonstrated during his affiliation with the Baton Rouge General Medical Center through the years during which he was Chairman of the Cardiovascular Diagnostic Service, the Cardiovascular Patient Service Group, the Credentials Committee and was Site Coordinator of the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction. Dr. Lappin served as Chief of Staff of the Baton Rouge General Medical Center from 1995 through 1999. He was a member of The General Health System Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2001. In 2010, The Baton Rouge General Administration and Board of Trustees recognized Dr. Lappin as a Special Honoree during an event celebrating the Medical Staff and Retiring Physicians. He was also part of the Medical Staffs of Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center in Gonzales, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Cardiology at LSU-Earl K. Long Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Chairman of the EKL-LSU Medical Center Foundation and a consultant to the Pennington Biomedical Center. Dr. Lappin was a member of the American Heart Association and served as President of the East Baton Rouge Parish Heart Unit from 1978 to 1981. He was a member of, and active in, the American Medical Association, Louisiana State Medical Society, East Baton Rouge Parish Medical Society, American College of Cardiology (including the Louisiana Chapter), American College of Physicians and the American College of Chest Physicians. He was especially committed to the establishment of Emergency Medical Services in Baton Rouge and was thrilled to be one of the three original Medical Directors of EMS when it officially began in 1982. As the Medical Director of Cardiovascular Care, he remained involved with EMS until his health no longer permitted direct patient care consultation. In 1999, after 31 years of full-time practice, Dr. Lappin retired to pursue a quieter, more restful lifestyle "“ to "stop and smell the roses". He was elated as his retirement years enabled him to travel, enjoy more family time and join his fishing buddies for countless fishing trips on his boat. Pallbearers will be Gary Lappin, Dr. Harold Lappin, Dr. Michael Mitschke, Michael W. Noto, Dr. David Pope, Patrick Seiter, Larry Steel and Dr. Joseph Trapani. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Karl Pizzolatto, Dr. Mike Montalbano, Don Richards, Bill Stevens, Harry Pizzolato, Jimmy "Mamou" Fontenot, Carol Marie Prejean and Diane Gay Bennett. Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Michael D. Prados of UCSF Medical Center, Dr. Michael McDermott of UCSF Medical Center, Dr. Gerald Miletello, Dr. William Russell, Dr. Steven Zuckerman, Dr. Stephen Brierre, Dr. Benton Dupont and the physicians and staff of Baton Rouge Radiology Group, Baton Rouge General Pennington Cancer Center and The Hospice of Baton Rouge as well as our "angels": Roxanne Davis, Monique McCleery, Tommie Krousel, Susie Boudinot and Joe Nicolosi. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Harris to The Baton Rouge General Pennington Cancer Center, The Hospice of Baton Rouge, Wounded Warrior Project or a charitable organization of your choice. Keep fishing, Harris!