- Date Of Birth: September 6, 1938
- Date Of Death: April 12, 2021
- State: Iowa
Judy Flapan, 82, died in the arms of her beloved husband of almost 61 years surrounded by their five daughters at home in Newport Beach, CA on Monday, April 12, 2021. Judy was born September 6, 1938 in Chicago, IL to Maurice and Rose (Breman) Karpen. She graduated Sullivan High School in 1956 and began college at Roosevelt University in Chicago. After five years of courtship, Judy married Marshall Flapan in Chicago on June 26, 1960. While raising five teenage daughters, Judy earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with an emphasis on speech/communication from Drake University in Des Moines. A champion for equality, democracy, and women’s rights, Judy was a civic leader, political activist and philanthropist. She gave her time and resources to many beloved organizations including Planned Parenthood, Junior League, the Des Moines Metro Opera, Tifereth Israel Synagogue and the Democratic Party, among others. She also volunteered teaching speech communication at the community college and helped resettle refugees in Des Moines, sharing her love for American democracy.
Judy loved a good party, especially one that included music and dancing. She always had room at the table for friends and strangers alike. She basked in the company of family, and in particular, her grandchildren. There was seldom a word that wouldn’t trigger a song or poem that Judy had on the tip of her tongue. Neither could she hide her delight in a joke well-told, which she could be heard re-telling as her own. She was an avid reader and looked forward to monthly meetings with the remarkable women of her book club.
Judy had a keen eye for beauty, in all its forms. Initially a painter and later a ceramist, she was an accomplished artist.
She leaves behind her husband, Dr. Marshall Flapan; daughters Cheryl Lewis (Ian Aaron) of Calabasas, CA, Valerie (Dr. David) Canter of Ann Arbor, MI, Dr. Suzanne Flapan (Todd Newman) of New City, NY, Julie Flapan (Rabbi Andrew Feig) of Los Angeles, CA, Dr. Wendy Flapan (Garrett Amerman) of Saratoga, CA; Grandchildren: Daniel Lewis, Michael Lewis, Benjamin Lewis, Ella Flapan-Feig, Ezra Flapan-Feig, Eytan Flapan-Feig, Eli Newman, Jonathan Newman, Matthew Canter, Timothy Canter, Ruth Canter; son-in-law David Lewis. Judy was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Earl, Paul and Julian Karpen.
