Clinton and Leigh Rappole

Leigh Anderson Rappole, 83, daughter of Ruth and Roger Anderson, passed away on January 6, 2026, in Houston, TX. She was born on November 17, 1942, in Springfield, MA. Her warm-hearted nature and joyous laugh will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Leigh graduated from Hinsdale High School in Illinois in 1960 and earned her bachelor’s degree from Wells College in 1964 in Aurora, NY. She later received a master’s in Education from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, reflecting her lifelong commitment to learning and service. Leigh married Clint Rappole in 1964 and in 1972, Leigh and Clint moved to Houston, TX, where they built a beautiful life in Houston, raising their three beloved children, and made incredible lifelong friendships. Leigh’s life was defined by her deep kindness and care for others, most notably through her devotion to her family. A dedicated and loving mother, she supported her children in every aspect of their lives—from throwing creative birthday parties and attending every sporting event, to helping with homework and offering comfort during life’s more difficult moments. As a wife, Leigh steadfastly supported her husband throughout his career, while skillfully managing family life and coordinating the many activities of their children. Leigh extended her nurturing spirit into her professional life as a teacher, teaching in Ithaca, NY, and at Alief Middle School in Houston. While working with academically challenged students at Alief Middle School, she formed the “Reading Posse” and helped her students foster a love of reading. She also volunteered with Child Advocates, where she worked to ensure abused and neglected children were placed in safe, permanent homes. She kept in touch with some of the kids and families throughout their lives. In the time she had for herself, Leigh found joy in both listening to music and playing the violin. She was a regular attendee of the Houston Symphony Orchestra with Clint and performed with the Ithaca Community Orchestra and the Houston Civic Symphony. She also cherished traveling with Clint, often visiting family and spending treasured time playing with and watching her six grandchildren. Their travels frequently included outdoor destinations, with Big Bend National Park and the Oregon coast. Their most recent trip was to Chicago where Leigh and Clint celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary with family at The Drake Hotel, the same hotel at which they spent their honeymoon night. Leigh was deeply proud of her Swedish heritage, and it became a cherished part of her family life—especially at Christmas time. She delighted in teaching her children about the Yule Tomtens and Dala horses that filled the house and became a beloved symbol of the season. Each Christmas Eve, Leigh lovingly prepared a Swedish smorgasbord, a tradition in which she took great pride. Leigh is survived by Clinton (Micky) Rappole & Cynthia Serrato; Kristin (Krissy) R. Green; Britta R. Traudt & Bart Traudt; her brother Geoffrey Anderson; and six grandchildren: Jordan Green, Evan Green, Brenna Traudt, Bryson Traudt, Rebecca Rappole, and Eric Rappole. She is preceded in death by her brother Ross Anderson and her parents. Clinton Leroy Rappole, 85, son of John and Margaret Rappole of Alexandria Bay, passed away on January 25, 2026, in Houston, Texas. He was born on September 21, 1940, in Buffalo, New York. His kindness, warm smile, and memorable stories will be greatly missed. In 1958, Clint graduated from Alexandria Central School in upstate New York. Clint earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. While at Colgate, he was a committed athlete, lettering in three sports - hockey, baseball, and football. He later earned a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and a PhD from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. Clint taught at Cornell for seven years while also coaching JV ice hockey. In 1964, Clint married Leigh Anderson of Hinsdale, Illinois and a graduate of Wells College. In 1972, Clint and Leigh moved to Houston, Texas, where Clint joined the Hilton College at the University of Houston. At the college, he served in many roles, including interim dean, associate dean, professor emeritus, mentor, researcher, and advocate. Over the course of 33 years, Clint helped shape the Hilton College and generations of students. During this time, he established many lasting traditions at the hotel school, including Gourmet Night, Par Excellence, a summer program in Japan with the Nissho Gakuen Educational Corporation in Miyazaki, Japan, and the Eric’s Club Distinguished Chair. In his spare time, Clint found great joy in coaching his son’s T-ball and baseball teams. He loved watching all three of his children participate in their various sports, with swimming being a favorite, something all three children did. As the kids grew older, he enjoyed traveling with his beautiful wife, Leigh. Their favorite destinations were wherever their three children and six grandchildren lived, which often brought them to Southern and Northern California, as well as Chicago. Some other favorite places included Big Bend National Park and Manzanita Beach in Oregon. A highlight was their time in Montreux, Switzerland, where they resided for six months while Clint taught at Glion Institute of Higher Education and Leigh volunteered in an elementary classroom. Their most recent trip was to Chicago where Leigh and Clint celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary with family at The Drake Hotel, the same hotel at which they spent their honeymoon night. Clint was an avid reader and was known for rarely watching television unless it involved a sporting event. He loved early rock and roll with Elvis Presley being a favorite, sometimes embarrassing his children by singing and dancing to his favorite songs. Clint also enjoyed attending the symphony with his wife Leigh, where they were regular patrons. Clint is survived by his children: Clinton (Micky) Rappole and Cynthia Serrato; Kristin (Krissy) R. Green; and Britta R. Traudt and Bart Traudt; his sisters, Sandy Peck and Karen Parker; and his six grandchildren: Jordan Green, Evan Green, Brenna Traudt, Bryson Traudt, Rebecca Rappole, and Eric Rappole. A joint memorial service celebrating the lives of Clint and his wife Leigh will be held Friday, 03/06/2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to: Child Advocates: https://www.childadvocates.org/give/individuals University of Houston Hilton Hotel College https://www.uh.edu/hilton-college/alumni-and-giving/giving-opportunities/ American Cancer Society: https://donate.cancer.org/?campaign=honormemorialbutton&lang=e