Naomi Greenberger Rapport's Obituary
Naomi Rapport passed away on June 7, 2017 at the age of 92 at the Aberdeen Crossings Assisted Living in Highland Heights, Ohio.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry A. Greenberger and Gertrude (nee Miller) Greenberger; by her late husband of 62 years, John A. Rapport; and by her brother Millard S. Greenberger, and her sister Elaine G. Soss.
She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Philip, M.D. (Rebecca, Ph.D.), Judith Bergman (Henry), Kenneth, J.D. (Barbara Messinger Rapport, M.D.) and Daniel, M.D. (Judith A. Leb, J.D.). She was also the proud grandmother of five grandsons, Aaron, Ph.D. (Joyce), David, Adam (Emily), Nathan and Jacob.
Naomi G. Rapport was born, raised, and lived nearly all of her life in Canton, Ohio. She was born in 1924 to Harry and Gertrude Greenberger, the youngest of three children. Her father was a prominent businessman and leader in Canton, particularly in the Jewish community, where he served as the president of the reform synagogue, and founder of the Jewish country club. Her mother was the matron of the house. Both of her parents had grown up in Cleveland, and so, many of Naomi's earliest memories are of her family's weekly expeditions to Cleveland up the main road which at the time was State route 91, SOM Center Road.
Naomi was an excellent student who graduated as valedictorian of her 1942 class at Lehman High School in Canton. She attended the University of Michigan. When asked why she chose Michigan, she said her rebellious side finally won out and she wanted to do something that her siblings had not done. (They both attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio). She majored in political science--an apt choice given the turmoil in the world during her college years. Upon graduating in 1946, she returned to Canton working as a librarian at the main library. In 1947, or thereabouts, she met her future husband, John A. Rapport, who came to Canton after serving as a captain in the United States Army during WWII. John was originally from Pittsburg, but arrived in Canton to work with his mother who had opened a dress store in Canton during the war. His family had owned and managed a small chain of women's apparel stores in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio since before the Great Depression.
In 1948, John and Naomi wed and soon began raising a family. Eventually there would be four children, and Naomi would become the matron of her own home. For decades her home was the center of our family. Every holiday and family gathering was celebrated there, always embellished by her memorable cooking often featuring her fabulous brisket or amazing grilled steaks. Because Naomi was a Canton native she and John had many, many friends throughout their lives; and, among these dear friends, they maintained correspondence with one another throughout their entire lives. In addition to raising her children Naomi was very active in the Temple Israel sisterhood, serving as co-chair of many special events. She and John were avid golfers; Naomi, being especially accomplished, won several championships at Arrowhead Country Club, and still has her trophies, including one for a hole-in-one. With four stores to run, John left most of the household management responsibilities to Naomi, and with four active children Naomi was very busy. As the children grew however, mom and dad found more time to spend together traveling all across the United States, and eventually throughout the world. Among the countries she and John traveled to were Canada, China, England, France, Greece, Holland, Italy, and Israel. In addition to travel abroad, she and John traveled extensively throughout the United States, including to Alaska and Hawaii. In their later years they spent their winters in Florida, the highlight of which was the many visits they would receive from their ever-expanding family of in-laws and grandchildren.
Naomi was a woman of exceeding wit and wisdom which she shared freely and possessed a strong will and determination. She was wholly devoted to her family and they to her. Mom will be sorely missed and remembered forever. If ever there was an angel on Earth, that was our mom, Naomi Greenberger Rapport.
Funeral services will be held at Northlawn Cemetery, 4927 Cleveland Avenue NW in Canton, at 11am on Monday, June 12th. A memorial service will be held in Cleveland at a later date. Donations in her memory may be made to Temple Israel in Canton or to any Alzheimer’s Association.
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