Jean S Rappaport

Jean Sapol Rappaport, 91, died peacefully on January 1, 2026, in Palm City, Florida.

Jean was born in 1934 in Yonkers, NY. She graduated from Tilden High School and Brooklyn College, ultimately receiving a Master’s Degree in Library Science from Queens College. After a career in the Verona, NJ school system as elementary school librarian, media specialist, technology supervisor, and developer of the gifted and talented program, she retired in 1992.

Jean lived in the greater New York and New Jersey area, including Brooklyn and Laurelton, NY, and New Providence and Basking Ridge, NJ, before moving to Florida in 1996. She was a lifelong volunteer, establishing religious libraries at the Summit, NJ JCC and Temple Bait Hayam (TBH) in Stuart, Florida. She voluntarily taught early childhood classes at TBH's Early Learning Center and volunteered at Palm City's Cumming and Blake libraries. She had a brilliant mind and superior memory, was gracious, giving, a lifelong learner, Anglophile, and traveler. Her joie de vivre was infectious, and she loved being with people, developing a host of lifelong friendships.

Jean is survived by her daughter Amy (late Larry Lundgren), sister-in-law Laura, nieces and nephews Risa, Sindee, Jay, and Harold as well as many cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her husband Walter, son Barry, brother Seymour Sapol (late Diane) and parents Jack and Anna Sapol.

A graveside service will take place Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 12:45pm at New Montefiore Cemetery in Babylon, NY. A memorial service will take place Monday January 12, 2026, at Temple Beit HaYam in Stuart, FL at 11 am (streamed on the website Tbhfl.org).

Contributions in her memory can be made to: The Dr. Barry Neil Rappaport Endowed Memorial Scholarship, NMSU Foundation, PO Box 3590, Las Cruces, NM 88003.