RAPP ADVERTISING - Key Persons
Born in Paterson, NJ, Angelo Rapp is a gifted artist. He attended The Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts while working at his family's "North Newark Restaurant," delivering sandwiches to workers in factories during the war effort, and working the soda fountain in the evenings. In 1943 at the age of 18 he enlisted in the Navy and became a weatherman stationed at Dutch Harbor on the Aleutian Islands, AK, where he served for approximately two years.
Following the war, Angelo was hired by Admiral Corporation, a then-leading manufacturer of television and appliances, where he started as an Artist, and was promoted to Sales Promotion Manager responsible for trade show displays, point-of purchase merchandising
and dealer cooperative advertising programs. He left Admiral to start Rapp Advertising in 1952.
He was a Board member of the Sales Executives Club of New Jersey, and of the New Jersey Association of Advertising Agencies, and served as President of the Irvington Library Board of Trustees, President of the Irvington Chamber of Commerce and President of the Mountainside Lion's Club.
An avid watercolorist, sailor and golfer, he retired in 1996, and in 1998 moved from Mantoloking, NJ to Jupiter, FL.
Richard Rapp was born in Irvington, NJ, attended Newark Academy in Livingston, NJ, and graduated Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in Economics.
From an early age he worked at the company with his father, learning each area of the business hands-on, as Copywriter, Media Planner, Account Executive and Art and Creative Director.
Immersed since childhood in all phases of construction in the business of an uncle, he built and maintained offshore boats at a high level, an interest he still pursues. Fiberglass molding, woodworking, welding, engine repair, plumbing, wiring, finishing and rigging for marine environments added to the foundation upon which his understanding of clients' industrial products is built.
Out of college, with agency fundamentals behind him, Richard assumed the role of Account Executive, as well as Copywriter and Creative Director for his accounts. In 1980 he assumed the role of Vice President, adding finance and personnel to his responsibilities, and in 1987 assumed the role of President.
Richard and wife Sherran, who owned an advertising agency before the couple met, have two children and live in Mendham, NJ.
He received a patent in 2009 for a floating boatlift, and is an avid sailor, fisherman, pianist, mechanic and woodworker.