John Edward Rupert

John Edward “Jack” Rupert, 94, of Ithaca, NY, formerly of Lakewood, OH, passed away April 22, 2022.  Born in Cleveland, OH on Oct. 19, 1927 to Edward Jackson and Emma Levegood Rupert.  Husband of the late Virginia Carlson Rupert, father of Kristen Rupert (John Foote) of Watertown, MA, Karen Rupert Keating (Tom) of Vero Beach, FL and David Carlson Rupert of Lake Worth Beach, FL; grandfather of David Sheridan Keating (Riley), Anne Carlson Keating (Austin Lamon) and Asia Ondaatje Rupert; great-grandfather of William Isbrandtsen Keating and Emma Flaherty Keating.

Jack graduated from Lakewood High School and Cornell University, with an AB in 1949 and a JD (Law) in 1951.  He served in the US Air Force from 1951-53 at Wright-Patterson AFB in the adjutant general’s office.  He then joined Broadview Savings & Loan Company in Cleveland, where he became CEO in 1974 and retired in 1986.  He was National President of the American Savings & Loan Institute.

A life-long Clevelander, Jack had served as Chair of the Board of the Cleveland Zoological Society, on the Board of the Cleveland Orchestra and President of its West Shore Concert Series, and a Board member of the Western Reserve Historical Society, Canalway Partners, Cleveland READS and WVIZ-PBS-Ideastream.  He was President of Cleveland Interfaith Housing Corporation from 1972-80.  He served as President of the Lakewood Public School Board, a Trustee of Lakewood Hospital, and was inducted into the Lakewood High School Alumni Hall of Fame.  He was previously Chair of the Clifton Park Trustees.

A proud alumnus of Cornell University, Jack served on multiple Cornell Advisory Boards, interviewed applicants, chaired the Cornell University Council, and received the Frank Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award, the highest honor for a Cornell volunteer. 

Jack enjoyed genealogy, history, architecture, stone wall building, travel, tennis, small sailboat racing, and trains.

Memorial donations may be directed to the Cleveland Zoological Society, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland OH, 44109, ClevelandZooSociety.org/memorial or 216-635-3329; the Rupert Family Scholarship, Cornell University, Box 37334, Boone, IA 50037-0334, https://giving.cornell.edu/ or 1-800-279-3099; or the charity of your choice. 

Memorial Service Friday, November 18 at 11am at Lakewood Congregational Church, 1375 W. Clifton Blvd., Lakewood, OH 44107.  Arrangements by Bangs Funeral Home, Ithaca, NY. www.bangsfuneralhome.com.

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