Jacob Walter Ruppenthal
Elmira: Age 98, passed away Saturday, September 24, 2011. Jake was born June 13, 1913, in Buffalo, NY,
the son of Emil and Martha Hofmeister Ruppenthal. He was predeceased by his
wife of 69 years, Hazel Long Ruppenthal on September 17, 2011. Jake is survived by his daughter and
son-in-law Carole R. and Reverend James Towner of Buena Vista, CO; son and daughter-in-law,
Mark J. and Eileen McCarthy Ruppenthal of Horseheads with their son Daniel
Jacob; sisters and brother-in-law, Naomi and Hugh Campbell of Wilmington, DE,
and Arline Learman of New Port Richey, FL; along with several nieces and
nephews. In the 1930s and early 1940s,
Jake was a jazz guitarist, playing with small ensembles and pit bands in
various jazz venues throughout New York City and
the northeast, including a Billie Holiday appearance in Buffalo, NY. After marrying Hazel Long in 1942, Jake began
work as a civilian employee of the US Corps of Engineers, working on the
Manhattan Project and the St. Lawrence Seaway. He was drafted in 1943 into the 64th
Engineer Topographic Battalion serving in the Pacific Theater under both
General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz. He
served as a specialist in reconnaissance photography with a security
classification allowing him to photograph and prepare pre-invasion aerial maps,
documentation of invasion targets, and post-battle occupations. Jake was present at the Battle of Okinawa and
Iwo Jima, where he developed several of the
photographs of the US Marine Flag Raising. Jake was one of the photographers on
board the USS Missouri documenting the formal Japanese surrender and he
continued to serve General MacArthur by providing photographic documentation of
the occupation of Japan
and the secret test of the first jet engines.
Jake’s post-war career was that of a chemist and lithographer. His first stop was in Binghamton
at Anderson Press/Sun Bulletin, until 1949 when he & Hazel moved their
young family to Elmira
where he joined Artistic Card. Jake
remained at Artistic Card, then Artistic Greetings, for 48 years as a color
separation & print specialist, holding several patents in color processes
and laser printing systems. Jake was an
accomplished artist in numerous mediums, including wood carving, pencil
drawing, portraiture, and oils, pastels, and watercolors. In this regard, Jake was often called on by
the Metropolitan Museum
in New York City
to consult on painting restorations and he also assisted Great Lakes Press with
an ink formulation process allowing them to convert Andrew Wyeth watercolors to
a lithograph that could be mass produced.
Jake was very active in all aspects of community life. In the early days of the Elmira Little
Theater, Jake created & designed the sets for the various productions. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, a
Shriner, a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary Club, and an active participant with
the Volunteers of America. In addition,
Jake was a very active member of his church, serving in numerous leadership
capacities, as well as serving as a long-standing member of the choir, of Hedding United
Methodist Church
which later became Christ United Methodist
Church and is currently New Beginnings
United Methodist
Church. Jake’s mural of the Resurrection can still be
found in the chapel of Christ United Methodist
Church on the corner of Columbia &
Church Streets in Elmira. Following Jake’s retirement, he and Hazel
enjoyed spending time with their family & friends, and particularly their
grandson, Daniel. Jake’s interest in
learning kept him occupied on his computer for hours at a time whether skyping
his sisters or googling some obscure facts.
He enjoyed telling stories of his adventures to anyone who had a few
hours to listen and you never knew what you might learn about his history and
the events he had witnessed. Family and friends are invited to McInerny
Funeral Home, corner of W. Water and Walnut Streets, on Monday, September 26,
2011 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. A funeral service will follow at 7:30 p.m.
Committal prayers and interment will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday,
September 27, 2011 at Woodlawn Cemetery. Those wishing may remember Jake with a
donation to New Beginnings United Methodist Church, 300 East Miller Street,
Elmira, NY 14904 or to St. Mary Our Mother School Playground Fund, 811 Westlake
Road, Horseheads, NY 14845.
RETURN TO OBITUARY HOME PAGE