Ann Rapisarda

Ann Anasuya Rapisarda 

Ann Anasuya Rapisarda passed away on January 7, 2025, at the age of 80, in San Antonio, Texas. Born on May 20,1944, in Lyndhurst, Ohio, Ann lived a life marked by vibrancy, intelligence, and class. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Rapisarda. 

Ann started her career as a high-fashion model and later became a published journalist and accomplished writer. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to teach yoga internationally and to start a successful gluten-free baking company. Ann was a dedicated parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton. 

She was deeply involved in her community as a member of The Rotary Club, contributing significantly to various initiatives. Ann’s life was enriched by her significant other, Earl Halbrook, and her loving family. She is survived by her daughters, Dr Brigette Rapisarda Gulick (Nathan), Dr Clarrice King (James III), Eyvette Schrimmer (Adam), and Gabrielle Manders (Jason); brother, Robert Laczko; grandchildren Noah, Nicholas, James IV, Olivia, Gabriel, Bryson, Jaxon, and Preston; and her beloved pet, Chanel. 

Ann’s life will be remembered for her spirited personality, her contributions to her community, and her loving presence in the lives of her family and friends. 

A GOODBYE TO MY DEAR FRIEND, ANN

My deepest condolences to all the beautiful Rapisarda sisters and their families:

Certainly, I don’t have to tell you girls that your Mom was a colossal force of nature! Our first encounter came when Ann called me at my Front Row Theatre PR job to request a phone interview with one of our major celebrities. I explained the star’s publicist had explicitly noted he would NOT be doing any phone interviews—not even for the major daily newspaper let alone the smaller local paper. But I promised to at least forward her request.

Ann’s guardian angel must have been on overtime because, to my great surprise, our star agreed to the interview—the ONLY one he agreed to for our booking! It would be the first of many celebrity interviews Ann would write for us both at Front Row and Playhouse Square.

That was probably the last time I was “surprised” by Ann Rapisarda. I came to expect as commonplace tales of her ensuing fabulous travels from the peaks of Machu Picchu to the jungles of the Philippines, plus her articles on the likes of psychic surgeons, holy men and women, sundry celebrities…including the Dalai Lama. It wasn’t even surprising to find a photo of Ann appearing on the front page of a newspaper in India picturing her teaching yoga to the locals---even though THAT was akin to traveling to Alaska to sell ice to Eskimos.

Whether it was teaching yoga and the business venture it produced with Brigette--or turning her “lemon” celiac diagnosis into a “lemonade” gluten-free Skye food business--or writing her always-entertaining “Thinking About Thinking” newspaper column---Ann was a lady in perpetual motion.

Anyone who knew her admired Ann for her devotion to family, her unwavering faith and dutiful mass attendance. Thus, she became the natural candidate for the Cleveland diocese to be their representative at a world ecumenical conference in Turkey.

Ann seemed to have been born with an acute sense of fashion. She loved clothes that were colorful, interesting and preferably by a noted designer. I have a mental picture of Ann in heaven now being fitted for her celestial robe and wings, but-- asking if hers could possibly be designed by the late Coco Chanel or Hubert Givenchy? 

I can’t begin to tell you how proud your Mom and Dad were of all you girls, your careers and the education levels you achieved. I will sorely miss our chats and Ann’s emails and texts with photos and the notes of delight she took in your lives and each and every grandchild.

Ann is now the 4th close friend suddenly lost in 9 months—one of whom had often repeated to me, “Jeannie, if you learn I have died suddenly…and when it happened…if I wasn’t in long-term nursing, and I still had all my marbles…please consider me a winner!” I hope you all will find solace in the fact that Ann was so active and enjoyed her life and each of you up to the end. She was definitely a winner….as we all are who had the privilege to have loved her.

I remember your Mom’s admonition to everyone at your father’s funeral….NO TEARS was her strong demand. So, in place of tears, I’d like to remember Ann with a favorite thought by poet Emily Dickinson:

 “THIS WORLD IS NOT CONCLUSION…A SEQUEL STANDS BEYOND…INVISIBLE AS MUSIC, BUT POSITIVE AS SOUND.”