Bertram Rapoport

Bertram (Bert) Rapoport, known to his Albany neighbors and friends for his uncommon acts of kindness, passed away peacefully on December 19, 2015. He was 96.

Bert met the love of his life, Emily Voelxen, while attending elementary school. In the 6th grade, he told friends that he would marry Emily one day. They were high school sweethearts and married on March 10, 1941, the beginning of a wonderful union that would span close to 75 years.

Bert served in the Navy and was a hero during World War II. After the war he opened his first restaurant, Rappie's Diner, in north Albany. Subsequently, he opened Rappie's Restaurant on Fuller Road — both were successes. At age 53, Bert decided to make a change and began a whole new career that would fully engage him into his eighties. Bert became a top professional in the insurance business, counseling clients regarding life coverage and annuities. He was well known for his honesty and highly regarded by the community for his strong ethics and values. Bert excelled in the business, earning numerous awards and achieving great success.

Although Bert and Emily traveled the world and spent many winters at their home in Florida as well as annual trips to Southern California to visit family, his heart truly belonged to Albany. He loved the whole area, which he referred to as God's country. He loved raising his family there. He loved his home and garden, which he cared for into his nineties, manicuring the lawn, growing a vegetable garden and making his own pickles, which he proudly shared with friends, family, his accountant, his doctors, and numerous business associates.

A talented pianist, Bert enjoyed playing jazz and big band songs while entertaining family and friends. He loved sharing his abundant life stories and past memories with his children and grandchildren and with new friends - no one was a stranger to Bert. He was an especially devoted husband to Emily, whom he affectionately referred to as The Queen or The Blonde.

Bert is survived by his wife, Emily, his daughter, Jan Hunt of Albany, New York and her husband, Jim Hunt, his son, George Rapoport of Kingman, Arizona and his wife Marie, his grandson Scott Rapoport of El Dorado Hills, California and his wife Augusta, his grandson Jason Rapoport of Las Vegas, Nevada and his wife, Laura, and his three great grandchildren: Brooke, Richie, and Paisley Rae.

A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Bert's life is being planned for a future date.