- Date Of Death: June 24, 2012
- State: Connecticut
John M. Papa, 87, of San Francisco, formerly of New Haven, died in his sleep at home in San Francisco on June 24, 2012. Born in New Haven on Jan. 20, 1925, he was the son of the late John H. and Lucy Merola Papa. A. San Francisco real estate broker, architectural preservationist, patron of the arts and global traveler, he has returned home to New Haven. As a young man, he was active in the family business, Papa & Sons Chapel Open Air Market, and, later as a clothier to the Yale community. In 1952, Mr. Papa moved to San Francisco where he pursued a career in real estate and accumulated numerous properties including the historic Selfridge houses, a connected group of six houses designed by the Reid Brothers, located on the southwest corner of California and Pierce streets. His own residence was the Selfridge mansion at 2615 California St. which Julia Morgan renovated in the 1930s. Mr. Papa was frequently mentioned by the late San Francisco Chronicle columnist, Herb Caen, in his writings about San Francisco’s social scene. Mr. Caen also hailed Mr. Papa for his preservation of the Selfridge houses and the creation of the Pierce Street Mews. Mr. Papa was credited with coining the term “Pacific Heights South” as he worked to preserve, restore and revitalize this neighborhood beginning in the 1960s. Mr. Papa often and generously entertained friends, family and the renowned: HM Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, King of Tonga (1965-2006); Lee Evans, 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist; as well as Hollywood actors, professional musicians, and social, civic and business leaders of San Francisco. Among his distinguished performing arts guests were the great sopranos Leontyne Price and Renata Scotto, prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn, principal dancers Rudolf Nureyev and Sir Anthony James Dowell, as well as numerous dancers of the American Ballet Theater and the Royal Ballet. An avid traveler, Mr. Papa’s journeys took him to all continents. Abroad for six months each year, he spent many winters in Puerto Vallarta and summers in Europe. He will be most fondly remembered for the many amusing postcards sent and anecdotes brought back. He is survived by a brother, Arthur Papa of Orange; a sister, Paula Caruso of North Haven; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, as well as his devoted San Francisco “family”. He was predeceased by a brother, Stephen J. Papa; two sisters, Rose Thomas and Mary Avitable; his nieces, Joan Avitable and Kathy Thomas; his nephew, Mark Papa; and dearest friends, Christy MacInnes and Rose Goldstein.
