Philanthropist and education champion Bernard “B” Rapoport passed away Thursday, April 6 at the age of 94.
Dr. Ray Marshall, former U.S. Secretary of Labor and founder of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs’s Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources released the following statement on the passing of Bernard Rapoport:
“Bernard Rapoport was a truly remarkable man who made not only Texas, but the world, a much better place. He was born into an economically poor, values-rich immigrant family and accumulated considerable material wealth through intelligence, hard work, and supplying valuable services, especially to workers. Stewardship was one of B’s strongest attributes: he used his wealth to improve the conditions of people who needed help, as well as to strengthen democratic values and institutions. B was extremely loyal to those people and institutions who had helped him and who shared his values, especially his family, the University of Texas, America, Israel, a host of friends, and democrats everywhere. He celebrated the distance America had come in promoting democracy and justice for all, but regretted the distance we still had to travel. B Rapoport was also very good company: he combined stimulating conversation with a well-developed sense of humor. He will be sorely missed but the results of his personal example and financial stewardship will live on forever.”
— Ray Marshall, Audre and Bernard Rapoport Centennial Chair (Emeritus) of Economics and Public Affairs, LBJ School of Public Affairs
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