Harvey Lapin, of New Canaan, Connecticut, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at the age of ninety-six. His family and friends mourn the loss of their beloved father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.
Harvey Lapin
Harvey was born in Brooklyn, NY on May 17, 1927, the son of Polish Jewish immigrants. The family moved to Stamford in 1934, where he attended public school. On his sixteenth birthday, he had to drop out of high school to run his father’s supermarket while his father underwent and recovered from surgery. Although he was not able to return to high school, he later obtained his Equivalency Diploma.
Harvey was inducted into the US Army on September 4, 1945. He served at the 4th Replacement Depot, in Yokohama, Japan, where he was given the job of managing the PX (Post Exchange) at age nineteen. He embraced the responsibility and took great pride in his army service. Upon returning, Harvey attended classes at University of Bridgeport, and worked several jobs, including as a Product Design Draftsman at Schick razor company, the job he most loved.
In 1952, Harvey met Joan Rosen, a native of New Canaan, on a blind date set up by their mutual friend Stanley Needle. They fell in love and were married in 1953. Joan’s father, Leo Rosen, had become ill, so they chose to stay in the home of Joan’s parents on Grace Street to help out. Harvey was then offered the job of running Leo’s supermarket on Main Street in New Canaan. Harvey accepted, leaving behind a promising career at Schick to help his new family.
Joan and Harvey Lapin
Harvey’s “brief” stint managing Rosen Brothers lasted 33 years, until the property was sold in 1986. He was famously seen at the register with Joan at his side packing bags and assisting customers. The day the store closed, customers threw a party and the Stamford Advocate published the photo seen here. Harvey had fallen in love with New Canaan — and New Canaan had fallen in love with Harvey. He championed the values of hard work, integrity and treating others with dignity and respect. His smile, generosity, and love of conversation cemented his place in the hearts of his loyal customers, many of whom kept in touch with him until his death. He mentored scores of teens as stock boys, and although he was reputed to be strict, many came back as adults to thank him for his caring tutelage. There is little doubt that under different circumstances, he would have been very successful in any field he might have chosen.
After Rosen Brothers closed, Harvey and Joan kept busy with volunteer work, part-time jobs, travel and relaxing on their boat. They truly enjoyed these years of their lives and felt very fortunate and blessed. Joan passed away in May 2023, just shy of their 70th anniversary.
Harvey is survived by his children Lauren Solomon (Leonard) of Concord, MA, Susan Lapin of Suffolk, VA, and Steven Lapin (Allison) of Sharon, MA and Jerusalem, Israel; brother Seymour Lapin of Norwalk, CT; grandchildren Mathew and Jacob Solomon, Jessica (Pat) Richardson and Johanna (Joshua) Cryder, and Uriel Lapin; great-grand-children Benjamin and Shanley Richardson, Adriel Camacho, and Robert and Samuel Cryder. In their final years Harvey and Joan were cared for in their home on Grace Street by devoted caregivers, most recently Leslie George, Patty Sillo, and Nicco Wilson.
The funeral will be held at 12 noon, Wednesday, December 20, at Agudath Sholom Cemetery, 554 West Hill Road, Stamford, CT. The family’s home at 16 Grace St., New Canaan, will be open to visitors on Wednesday and Thursday, December 20-21, from 3 – 7pm.
Donations in Harvey’s memory may be made to Meals on Wheels of New Canaan, https://www.mowofnc.org/, Chabad of New Canaan, https://www.newcanaanjewish.org/, and Mazon, A Jewish Response to Hunger, https://mazon.org
What a loss. Now both Harvey and his beloved Joan are gone. Both kind and loving people, special to all who knew them. I shall miss his smiles and his good heart. Rest in peace, dear old friend.
Dear Susan, this is Lauren, Harvey’s daughter. I was given the message that you called Dad to wish him Happy Chanukah last week, and left a message on the house phone. I’d planned to check the caller ID when I arrived later today so I could call you with the sad news. Please know that the gift of love that you and you sisters gave to Dad gave him such joy.
Thank you, Lauren. I have notified my sisters, Linda, Francy, and Cindy. They were grateful that they got to see your dad when we were all together in New Canaan last May. He shared his sweet memories of the Bacon family; they were much appreciated by all of us. We were so happy to be re-united after all those years.
Susan put it perfectly. Kind, loving, generous with the best sense of humor and the biggest heart. Blessed to have known him and called him my friend.
Two of our towns best! May they rest in peace together –
Harvey was my very first boss! I was 17 years old and he hired me on the spot and put me to work at Rosen’s market. I learned that first day he was demanding but fair. I learned many lessons in the 2 plus years I worked there from both Harvey and Joan. Here are a couple. Work hard, show up early, don’t complain, do the job right the first time. More importantly – Show the customers that they matter, build relationships with people, be kind, and serve others with your whole heart and being. Harvey you will always be my mentor, teacher and friend. Shalom.
That is so beautifully said, Robert. Not surprisingly, he taught me the same lessons. Thank you!