James Richard "Dick" Zapapas

J. Richard and Patricia R. Zapapas Scholarship, Established in 1993 by Mr. and Mrs. James Richard Zapapas; J. Richard Zapapas a was 500 Festival Chairman in 1983

James Richard (Dick) Zapapas of Indianapolis, passed away Sunday, October 2, 2011.

He was a devoted and loving husband, a proud and involved father and a committed and successful leader in all aspects of his life.

He was born in Martinsville, Indiana and was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Ryan, and parents James Zapapas and Bertha Gardner Zapapas and his stepmother, Kathryn Nichols Zapapas. Dick was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Purdue University where he received his pharmacy degree in 1947. Upon graduation, he joined Eli Lilly & Company where he served in a variety of operations, human resources, and general management positions. At his retirement in 1986, he was a Group Vice-President of Eli Lilly, President and Chairman of the Board of Elizabeth Arden, a subsidiary, and a member of Eli Lilly's Board of Directors.

He served on the Board of Directors of American United Life Insurance Company for many years and also served as a trustee of Butler University and of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College where he was Chairman of the Board. He was a recipient of a Sagamore of the Wabash by former Governor Robert Orr in 1987.

Dick was a past president of the Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee. He was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree from Purdue University where he served on its Presidents Council, The Board of Governors of the Purdue Foundation and the Dean's Advisory Council of the Krannert School of Business. As a lifelong supporter of Purdue's School of Pharmacy, he was known for his support of higher education, charitable interests and personal generosity.

He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and Hillcrest Country Club. He enjoyed golf, fishing, gin rummy, reading and especially spending time with his family.

He is survived by his six children, Marianne McGriff (Carver), Patricia Parry (Richard), Gail Rodecker (William), James Richard Zapapas, Jr. (Janice), Carol Zapapas and Julie Zapapas, 12 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the caregivers from Sunrise Senior Living and Rheagan Gilmore for the outstanding care they provided in his final years.

Visitation will be held at Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel, 740 E. 86th St., Indianapolis on Thursday, October 6, 2011 from 4:00 pm. – 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Pius X Catholic Church ( Our Lady of Peace Cemetery ) on Friday, October 7, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. - www. leppertmortuary. com