Jeno Lapat, 81, Gifted artist and world traveler.
Jeno Lapat, age 81, of Sheffield Village passed away to eternal life at his residence on the morning of June 29, 2015 following a brief illness. He was born in Lendava , Slovenia on December 6, 1933 and eventually moved to Budapest , Hungary where he grew up during World War II.
At the age of ten he was recognized for his artistic talent and by the age of sixteen he was awarded a full scholarship to attend the National Art Institute.
Jeno served for two years in the Hungarian Army where he fulfilled duty assignments as a Sergeant working in the Tactical Map Department. Following his military service he served as the Culture Executor at the Heviz Army Resort and as an illustrator for the T.V and Radio Magazine.
In addition to his artistic gift, Mr. Lapat also displayed an aptitude for music and played the accordion in his own band.
Following the beginning of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, Jeno and his wife escaped to Yugoslavia where they spent eight months in a transit camp for refugees. They immigrated to the United States in 1957.
Jeno founded Lapat Signs in 1962; the company specialized in hand-painted and computerized signs and celebrated its fiftieth anniversary of service in 2012.
Mr. Lapat produced video war spoofs and travel vignettes by Turul Video, was the author of three books including his own autobiography and also painted realistic oil paintings. In his free time he enjoyed world travel.
This gifted and blessed man will be deeply missed by his daughter Antonia of Sheffield Village and by his son Zoltan Lapat residing in Canton .
He was preceded in death by his wife of fifty years Antonia (Nee Biro) in 2007, by his parents Ignac
and Maria (nee Dervaric) Lapat, and by his brother Laci.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Avenue – Lorain . Funeral services will be Thursday beginning at 10:15 a.m. in the funeral chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 200 St. Joseph Drive – Amherst. Reverend John C. Retar, pastor of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini parish will be the celebrant. Burial will follow in Ridge Hill Memorial Park – Amherst Township .
To share your memories and condolences with Jeno’s family, please visit www.gluvna.net.