We Fairhaven Alumnae of a certain age lost a great friend and an amazing teacher last week. Joe Rapoza died within a few days of his beloved wife Hazel. Joe was hands down my favorite teacher at Fairhaven High; he was also a mentor and so generous with his time and gifts. His art room was a haven for those of us who weren’t easy to peg into any category. We weren’t jocks, or heads, or nerds, or cheerleaders; we were artists.
The Art Club
Our art room was at the top of the building, our beautiful castle with the clock tower on Huttleston Avenue. He turned a blind eye when a few of us climbed into the tower one day to see the view from up there. He let us bring a record player and albums into the room to listen to music during class, and allowed many of us to spend our study halls there, working on our art projects. He encouraged us to try new ideas, and I remember the joy of getting a previously untried project, a photo silk screen, to work with the help from a classmate in shop. I can’t count the number of times I’ve repeated the words he taught us in life drawing, “Draw what you see, not what you think you see.” That advice can be used in so much more than art.
“Draw what you see, not what you think you see.” That advice can be used in so much more than art.
I know I disappointed him when I didn’t pursue a career in art, but I was more pragmatic, and perhaps if I’d gone to a commercial school vs. a fine arts college things would have been different. But I’ve used my artistic side in other ways, and always took his teachings about art and life, about being a good person and doing things the right way with me. His teachings and advice have always served me well.
Last year for my 60thbirthday my husband arranged a trip down memory lane, complete with a visit to Fairhaven High School. Our tour guide was an alum a few years older than me, but when he found out when I graduated he referred to that time as “The Joe Rapoza Years”. Yes, indeed. And we were lucky to have him.
Godspeed, Mr. and Mrs. Rapoza.
What a wonderful tribute…….
Dear Deb, We read your fine tribute to Mr. Rapoza…. and …..not even knowing him, I can see He was a great man. As an Art Teacher, myself, even one student or a club who take away such life long blessings makes a huge impact on a teacher’s life. I, too, believe in his statement, “Draw what YOU SEE” Be your own self and be proud. I hope he knows how well he is remembered.
How are both of you doing??? Seems like quite a while since any correspondence. Are there trips in your near future?? John and I are still ( 8 years) into cleaning out my parents home in little Hughesville, PA. This could make a huge 400 page novel, Deb. We are making progress, it’s always a scheduling issue. We have our annual Craft Show coming up in November, so it’s work time for us, now. Sure hope all is well with you. Love reading your pages. Lovingly, Linda and John
AHHH We too had a Joe Rapoza (Mr Scanlon) for an art teacher… Some art teachers are cut from the same cloth… He saw 4 or 5 of us on the roof one day having lunch (this was a catholic school with several nuns on staff who would have beaten our hands raw with those damn wooded rulers and then expelled us…), not him, he went to his room, grabbed his lunch and climbed out his classroom window and came out and joined us… Are there even teachers like this today?
Loved my Art teacher!… fond memories of the ART CLUB…Mr Rapoza was one of the most inspirational people of my life!… I remember he was so disappointed in me not pursuing a career in Art… Years later ran into him and he was so happy to hear that I had utilized my Art skills in Fashion and Interior Design! RIP with your beautiful wife!🙏🏼
Deb,
I fondly remember Mr. Rapoza. I was an art major and went to SMU for a time in the Visual and Graphic Arts Program. My senior year 77-78. I had art classes 5 times a day. He was great. He challenged me in many projects that taught me so much. I still use some of these techniques in my current profession. Thank you for you story.
I as,well as so many students of mr. Rapoza have such great memories of I called it the art tower !!
Spent every study hall there .. and sure learned alot from him . I started pottery class this saturday and got to spin on a wheel! ! I some how wonder if he had a hand in that .as it took 39 years to find a pottery spin class to fit my life ‘s schedule! !!it was a bucket list item for me . I’d like to think of it that way makes it extra special … R I P . MY FAVORITE TEACHER
Mr. Rapoza was my favorite teacher in high school , having a classroom next to my Dad who taught in room 18 , i somehow managed to have art class 2 and three times a day in my junior and senior year. He would let me work on whatever i wanted no matter what the rest of the small class was doing . I still recall him telling me to avoid drawing from knowledge of a “ preconceived idea “. He was a good guy too , as i can remember my father and him were friends for many many years . He will be missed.
Hi Holly,
What year did you graduate, and what’s your dad’s name? I’d love to know if he was one of my teachers, too!
D.