Donald Rappaport

Born Nov. 21, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY, the son of Percy and Regina (Youle) Rappaport. He grew up in Upper Montclair, New Jersey.

Mr. Rappaport served three years as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer of the US Department of Education, appointed by President Clinton in 1997. Was an active board member of DC's Meridian Public Charter School and a founding member of FOCUS. Also was treasurer of the Committee for the Republic, a salon of intellectual thought and ideas.

A partner in the accounting firm Price Waterhouse & Co, from 1963 to his retirement in 1988. He joined the firm in 1949, and worked most of his career in Philadelphia, transferring to Washington in 1983, to head the firm's division serving mid-sized and growth businesses.

In 1983, he received a Mayor's citation for the work he did to improve the business climate in Philadelphia.

Mr. Rappaport also was chairman of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education in the 1970s. Before that, he was appointed by Philadelphia schools chief Richardson Dilworth as assistant superintendent for Finance. Dilworth commented that he liked the combination of a "liberal accountant" for the job.

Mr. Rappaport was an avid sailor and runner. At 80, he was the oldest participant in the 2007 Cherry Blossom 10-miler in Washington. He was a man of utmost integrity, had a zest for life, was an avid reader, traveler, intellectual. He leaves scores of true friends in Washington, Philadelphia and Martha's Vineyard, where he summered for more than 30 years.

A longtime Democrat, Mr. Rappaport worked on many local, state and national political campaigns. In the 1980s, he was budget director for the presidential campaign of Michael Dukakis. He also was a member of the Democratic National Committee’s small business council. He also served on a number of civic and cultural boards, lending his financial expertise to a variety of causes.

He graduated from Yale University in 1947, attending on the Navy’s V-12 program. He completed two graduate degrees at University of Pennsylvania, an MA in economics in 1948 and an MBA from the Wharton School in 1949. Mr. Rappaport served his country during the Korean War as a Lt. (Jg) line officer aboard the Destroyer Henderson in Korean waters from 1950-1952.

Private family funeral. A memorial service is planned for October.

The family suggests memorial donations to the Meridian Public Charter School, 1328 Florida Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20009.

Arrangements under the direction of Joseph Gawler's Sons Inc., Washington, DC.