Harold Arthur Lapham

Harry Lapham, long time Santa Rosa resident, passed away June 25th at age 99.   One of the last of the “Greatest Generation” he served in the South Pacific during World War II on the submarine chaser, USS Bangust.  Harry’s early days were spent in Occidental where he was raised and during which he acquired the nickname “Snowball”, the origin of which Harry was always happy to explain at any time.

After the war, Harry spent a few years with Bank of America in San Francisco and Eureka, where he met his wife, Lillian before starting out on his own retail liquor business, Rincon Center Liquors and Creekside Liquors in Santa Rosa which he owned for many years.  Harry liked working behind the counter of his establishment, discussing horse racing, but his real love has been local history.

Harry’s real passion was history, particularly West Sonoma County history, for which he received numerous awards including from the California Historical Society, Sonoma County Historical Society and the City of Santa Rosa for his preservation work.  Harry was the guy to ask if you had a question about the history of West Sonoma County or needed a photograph from early days.  He played a major role on the Bicentennial Commission, a group that originally formed to put together a “local event” for the 1976 celebration of America’s birth.  One festive event wasn’t enough for Harry.

He encouraged people to band together to build a museum in Santa Rosa.  This included the moving of the historical post office to its current location where it now serves as a museum for the city and county.  He served as both chairman and treasurer of the Bicentennial Commission.  Harry remained a member, including Board Member, of the Sonoma County Historical Society (in recent years as Emeritus Member) until his death.  Harry’s acknowledgement by his co-author of the book, “Walking Tour of Occidental” put it best as follows:

“I would like to acknowledge here the extensive assistance of Harry Lapham, without whose generosity, research, scholarship and impish humor, this book would be much less accurate and a whole lot duller.”

Harry had a number of other interests including for many years his daily early morning study of the racing form.  Harry and Lillian spent many enjoyable times at the Bay Meadows racetrack and following the horses during the fair circuit,

Harry was one of those people who became fast friends with anyone he met.  The world was his family.

Predeceased by his wife Lillian, his sister Shirley, and his parents Jesse and Dorothy Lapham.

Life Celebration to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sonoma County Historical Society.

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