Joseph F. Rapoza Jr - long time Art Teacher at Fairhaven High School

September 26th 2018

FAIRHAVEN FAIRHAVEN Joseph F. Rapoza Jr., 88, and Izaura Hazel Rapoza, 88, of Fairhaven, died peacefully at home with loved ones nearby. Izaura passed on Sept. 22, 2018 and Joseph died days later on Sept. 26, 2018. They were married for 62 years. Joseph was the son of Joseph F. Rapoza and Mary (Gracia) Rapoza. Izaura was the daughter of John C. Amaral and Hortense (Paiva) Amaral. They were both born in New Bedford and lived most of their lives in Fairhaven. Joseph was a graduate of Dartmouth High School and Bradford Durfee Technical Institute, now UMass Dartmouth. Izaura was a New Bedford High School and Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School graduate. Joseph was a long time Art Teacher at Fairhaven High School. I taught my students to see in the special way an artist does... learning art is learning to see. He was wise and witty. A consummate teacher, he always led by example with love and patience. He saw beauty everywhere and taught others to see beauty in the mundane. He was a longtime member of Gallery X. Izaura was a long-time parishioner and Eucharistic Minister at St. Joseph"s Church in Fairhaven. She was employed as an Executive and Legal Secretary beginning at Newport Naval Base and ending at PCI Group in New Bedford. She was a loving mother, wife and friend who spread love everywhere. She had a generous spirit, was quick to smile, loved to dance and cooked for crowds. Her legacy is the love shared freely and a joyful life. They are survived by their daughters Mary S. Rapoza and her partner Kermit Lamar Wilson, and Elizabeth Rapoza, their sons, Joseph F. Rapoza III, John F. Rapoza and his partner Celia Rosenquist, and James Rapoza and his wife Cheryl; grandchildren Sean Butters, Alexander Butters and Robert Butters, Bay Gammans, Elise Rapoza and Nathan Rapoza and one great-grandchild, Samara Korejwa. Joseph is survived by sisters Barbara Anderson and Mary Lou Humphries and was pre-deceased by siblings Norma Ponte and Lilliam Cieto. Izaura is survived by siblings Dennis Amaral and Patricia Amaral and was pre-deceased by John Amaral and Alzira Benevides. A Funeral Mass is being held at St Joseph"s Church in Fairhaven on Oct. 27 at 10am. Contact grayfoxs44@aol.com for information on the celebration of life at Gallery X. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gallery X and the Neediest Family Fund.

For Classmates having Mr. Rapoza during our 3 year run at FHS, nice read.