Obituary of Louis W. Trapasso

Louis W. Trapasso, the accomplished and well-known artist painter, best known for his lucid nostalgic depictions of urban and rural scenes of New England, passed away on February 14, 2018 due to a long-term illness. He was born in Mamaroneck, N.Y. on December 31, 1926 to the late Joseph and Beatrice DeRosa Trapasso, grew up in Bridgeport, CT and was a resident of Stratford, CT for the last 40 years. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 69 years, Louise Manente Trapasso and two sons, Keith Trapasso (wife, Diane), David Trapasso, and two grandchildren, David Trapasso, Jr. and Danielle Trapasso.

He also leaves behind Frank Trapasso (Mary), Ralph Trapasso (Susan), Edith Majersky, Rosalie Forte (Nick), and Anita Kilcran. Lou was predeceased by Joseph Trapasso and Elise Hart.

Lou, a World War II Veteran, served in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1945-1946, completing a tour of duty in occupied Japan. After his discharge from military service, he continued his education with a career in art as his goal. For Lou, artistic ability and love of drawing became apparent at an early age and from the very beginning of his school days, he was usually singled out as the class artist. He was always fascinated by the hands-on creative experience and he grew up building model ships, airplanes, wood working, carving, and drawing, always drawing. Even as a young boy, he knew that somehow, he would become an artist. So, it was that in 1949, Lou graduated from the Whitney School of Art (now Paier College of Art) in New Haven, CT. He continued his studies as a fine arts student at the University of Bridgeport, along with courses at Fairfield University. He also studied under the well-known artists Tony Couch, Hans Walleen, Claude Croney, Alex Ross, and Frank Corvino.

After graduation from art school in 1949, he quickly became aware that the job market had bottomed out and job prospects for inexperienced commercial artists were to say the least, bleak. In those early years, he worked as a package designer, typesetter, and as a freelance artist. In 1951, he accepted a position with Sikorsky Aircraft as a technical writer. Now he was in his element and from that point on, his professional career and reputation continued to grow with each new company he joined. Sikorsky Aircraft was followed by Consolidated Diesel Corp. in Stamford, CT; then Lycoming Corp. in Stratford, CT, and finally with Perkin-Elmer Corp. in Danbury, CT as an artist and writer. Lou was appointed Manager of Technical Publications. Later he became Manager of Public Affairs. Lou played an active role in the Hubbell Space Telescope Project, and helped design the exhibition at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

As an artist and writer, Lou's professional career spanned more than 40 years of management in technical communication, graphic arts, marketing, and advertising. However, he never lost his love for drawing and painting and continued to do so whenever possible. Then, in 1989, after years with Perkin-Elmer, he retired from the business world and was able to become a full-time painter. Since then, his work has won numerous awards and is currently held in many private collections, both nationally and abroad. Scenes of Bridgeport in its heyday are hung at the main Burroughs Library. Lou loved nature and the outdoors – hunting, camping, fishing, skiing, and many other sports. But above and beyond everything else was the adoring relationship that he and his wife Louise had for each other throughout their lives together.

Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull and at 10:00 a.m. in St. Mark Church, Stratford, for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in St. Michael's Cemetery, Stratford. Relatives and friends may greet the family on Monday, February 19, 2018 from 4-8 p.m. in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark Church, 500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford, CT 06614 or to a charity of one's choice.