"Our prayers and thoughts go to the whole family.Peace be with all of you."
In loving memory of
James Richard Zapapas
December 31, 1969 - December 31, 1969
James Richard (Dick) Zapapas, 85, Indianapolis, passed away on October 2, 2011. He was a devoted and loving husband, a proud and involved father and a committed and successful leader in all aspects of his life. He was born in Martinsville, Indiana and was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Ryan, and parents James Zapapas and Bertha Gardner Zapapas and his stepmother, Kathryn Nichols Zapapas. Dick was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Purdue University where he received his pharmacy degree in 1947. Upon graduation, he joined Eli Lilly & Company where he served in a variety of operations, human resources, and general management positions. At his retirement in 1986, he was a Group Vice-President of Eli Lilly, President and Chairman of the Board of Elizabeth Arden, a subsidiary, and a member of Eli Lilly?s Board of Directors.
He served on the Board of Directors of American United Life Insurance Company for many years and also served as a trustee of Butler University and of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College where he was Chairman of the Board. He was a recipient of a Sagamore of the Wabash by former Governor Robert Orr in 1987.
Dick was a past president of the Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee. He was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree from Purdue University where he served on its Presidents Council, The Board of Governors of the Purdue Foundation and the Dean?s Advisory Council of the Krannert School of Business. As a lifelong supporter of Purdue?s School of Pharmacy, he was known for his support of higher education, charitable interests and personal generosity.
He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and Hillcrest Country Club. He enjoyed golf, fishing, gin rummy, reading and especially spending time with his family.
He is survived by his six children, Marianne McGriff (Carver), Patricia Parry (Richard), Gail Rodecker (William), James Richard Zapapas, Jr. (Janice), Carol Zapapas and Julie Zapapas, 12 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the caregivers from Sunrise Senior Living and Rheagan Gilmore for the outstanding care they provided in his final years.
Visitation will be held at Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel, 740 E. 86th St., Indianapolis on Thursday, October 6, 2011 from 4:00 pm. ? 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Pius X Catholic Church on Friday, October 7, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.
You may visit www.leppertmortuary.com where you may sign the guest book, share a memory with the family, or make a memorial contribution to: St. Pius X Catholic Church, the National Alzheimer?s Foundation or St. Mary-Of-the-Woods College.
Tributes
"Pat and family,Our best to you at this difficult time. May happy memories of a life well lived bring you comfort and peace."
"Our thoughts, prayers and love are with you all during this time. God bless."
"Our prayer are with all of the Zapapas family during this time of losing a great person. Dick will be alive in all our hearts for a very long time. We had many good times with Dick and Pat at the lake, work, and traveling.A true gentleman in all his actions.The Coynes"
"Our condolences to all of Dick's family. Dick was always a gentleman in his dealings while at Elizabeth Arden. Please accept our prayers and thoughts.Dorothy, Jill Issa, Jon "
"Dear Family,I was very saddened to read of Dick's passing. He was my Director of Dry Products Mfg. when I was early in my time at Lilly. In 1969, a newly minted Butler U. MBAand impatient to advance, I took a job with Ross Perot's EDS Corp. Next morning, I received a message to visit Dick's office. An hour and twenty minutes laterhe had talked me into staying with Lilly. It was a decision that I never regretted and I will be forever grateful for his efforts for me and for the Company. I retired at the end of 1999.Again, the condolences from my wife and I,Bruce and Rosemary Hume "
"We are keeping you and your families in our thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.With sympathy,"
"My condolences to the Zapapas family."
"Dick was one of the first residents I cared for at Sunrise. I will miss his smile, his stories, and just sitting and talking with him with a bag of popcorn. My prayers are with his family and friends."
"Our sympathy and condolences to the Zapapas family. Having just been in NYC this last weekend, we had to go by the Burlington Building and remember all the fun and hard work we did at Elizabeth Arden in returning the business to profitability. My many after-hours meetings with Dick were always inspiring and driven to help this cosmetics business prosper. Dick was an excellent mentor and supporter throughout the rest of my career at Lilly. He will be missed, but leaves a legacy of many people made better by his influence and interactions."
"To Carol and Family, You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. Be comforted in your father's many contributions and the indelible impression he left."