Albert Morris Lapides

Albert Morris Lapides of Northridge, California, passed away Sunday, June 14, 2015 (27 Sivan 5775), at 87. Services will be held Graveside in Eden Memorial Park, Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at 11 am. Services will be officiated by Rabbi Ahud Sela of Temple Ramat Zion. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Mr. Lapides' memory to Northridge Hospital Leavey Cancer Center. www.supportnorthridge.org

Mr. Lapides, and Honorably Discharged Veteran of the United States Air Force- Korea, is survived by his beloved wife, Sherry Lapides; his children, Roberta (William) Foltz, Larry (Lori) Lapides, Ira (Melissa) Lapides; his grandchildren, Brandon, Jacob, Alex, Daniel, Frankie, Zack, Megan, and Ryan; and his great-grandchildren, Elli, Eden, and Zinnia.

Albert Morris Lapides was born in Los Angeles on December 25th, 1927. The second child and only son of Joseph A. and Sarah Lapides, he grew up in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. After graduating Fairfax High, he entered U.C. Berkeley, graduating in 1949 with a B.S.M.E. degree. At Cal, Al was a member of the riflery team and was a coxswain for crew. He joined the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity, becoming president in his senior year. As all students at the time, he was a member of the ROTC, and joined the U.S. Army Air Corps upon graduation, then transferring to the US Air Force in 1950, serving at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH.

After leaving the Air Force in 1954, Al spent the next 17 years in the defense industry. During his time at Marquardt and Litton Industries, he went back to school and earned his MS in Management Science from San Fernando Valley State College (now CSUN). In 1971 he became an executive search consultant. One year later he co-founded Replacement Parts Industries, Inc., providing replacement parts for medical and dental equipment.

In 1956 a friend from high school introduced Al to his wife-to-be. It took only seven dates in eight weeks for him to pop the question (and get a positive answer), and three months later they were married.

Al was active at Temple Ramat Zion (TRZ), at CSUN and with the Northridge Hospital Foundation. At TRZ he served on numerous committees, including youth group advisor. At CSUN he served on the President's Club and the CSUN Foundation, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Northridge Hospital Foundation. He also served as a mentor to MBA students at UCLA.

Arrangements are under the direction of Groman Eden Mortuary.