Joseph Paul Rapisarda Sr.

Joseph Paul Rapisarda, Sr., 91, died December 22, 2014. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of nearly 55 years, Mary. He is survived by a son, Joseph P. Rapisarda, Jr. and his wife, Margie; a daughter, Gina R. Windsor and her husband, Bob; and two grandchildren, Andrew Rapisarda and his fiancee Allison Crawford and Lindsey Rapisarda. Mr. Rapisarda was born at 2023 E. Main St. in Richmond on November 8, 1923. His mother and father emigrated to America from Italy in 1900. He attended St. Benedict Catholic School and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1942.

He was called into service in January 1943 and served in Europe with the 8th Air Force, 7th Bomb Squadron of the 34th Bomb Group. While serving in Europe with the B-17 Bombers, he was involved in air strikes over Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, and the Ardennes. He received the European-African Service Metal with six Battle Stars and his unit was awarded a Presidential Citation. Upon his return from service, he enrolled at the University of Richmond and graduated from the T.C. Williams School of Law in 1950. After graduating, Mr. Rapisarda joined the Commercial Union Insurance Company as an Adjuster. During his 26 years with Commericial Union he was named Chairman of Inter-Company Arbitration in 1962. In 1966, he was elected President of the Richmond Claims Executive Council of the American Insurance Association and was also appointed first Chairman of the Virginia Special Arbitration Committee of the American Insurance Association, where he served from 1972 through 1974. He was later made Claims Manager for the Commonwealth of Virgiinia. In February 1976, he joined Johnson and Higgins, International Insurance Brokers, where he remained until June 1990 retiring as Vice President.

Mr. Rapisarda, along with a friend, founded the Tuckahoe Little League in 1958, so his son and other children in the neighborhood would have a place to play baseball. He served as a board member and in other capacities for 30 years. Tuckahoe Little League purchased 10 acres on Starling Drive opposite Regency Square in 1967 and built three lighted fields. In 1968, the Tuckahoe Little League went to the World Series finals in Williamsport, Pa., losing to Japan in the final game. Because of its continued growth, in 1979 Tuckahoe Sports, Inc was organized to purchase a larger parcel of property for the Tuckahoe Little League and to build a new and much larger facility for the youth of western Henrico County. Mr. Rapisarda was President of Tuckahoe Sports while the facility was being built. His heartfelt thanks go out to all who made this possible. The new park was opened for play in 1984 with seven fields. Since that time several new playing fields have been added including fields for a girl's softball program and a program for the physically challenged. It is, without a doubt, the finest Little League facility in the country.

His remains rest at the Parham Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Rd., where the family will receive friends on Sunday, December 28 from 12 to 2 and 4 to 6 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Bridget Catholic Church on Monday, December 29 at 11 a.m. A reception will immediately follow at 16 Tapoan Rd., Richmond, Va. 23226. Interment in Westhampton Memorial Park will be private. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Tuckahoe Little League, Box 29783, Henrico, Va. 23242. Online condolence woodyfuneralhome.com