On behalf of the APWA Boar
d of Directors we are saddened to share with you that APWA President-Elect Lisa Rapp passed away on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Her death was sudden and very unexpected and has come as a great shock to everyone. We are all still trying to process this. Lisa was with the APWA Board of Directors in Kansas City just a few days before her passing. She was full of passion, energy, and excitement for what was yet to come in her new chapter of life after a 41-year career and retirement from the City of Lakewood.
Lisa was very much looking forward to her year as APWA President-Elect and her coming year as APWA President. Lisa was “all-in” with everything she did — and she did a lot! She was currently serving as the APWA Board Liaison to the Government Affairs Committee, a committee on which she served as chair for several years. She was currently serving as the chair of the APWA’s New Initiatives Committee, a Board of Trustee for the APWA Foundation, and an instructor and facilitator for the APWA Emerging Leaders’ Academy. Additionally, she has served her chapter as a member and on their Board with incredible passion and distinction. Recently, she became the APWA Region VIII Advocacy point person on issues that impacted the public works industry in the state of California.
Her colleagues, elected officials, and anyone she came into contact with knew right away that she was an incredible and passionate advocate for all things related to public works and infrastructure. Every person who knew her has their own special memory of a truly genuine individual. We have no words to express the loss that we all feel with Lisa’s passing. The entire APWA family has her family in our thoughts and prayers.
