Bruce Rapp

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Bruce Rapp, 80, of Manlius, NY and Delray Beach, FL. He passed away surrounded by his family on September 21, 2025 after a brief battle with cholangiocarcinoma.

Born in Syracuse on March 28, 1945, to Norma and Bill Rapp, Sr., Bruce attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School and Syracuse University. He dedicated his career to the family business, Bill Rapp Superstore, and was so honored when his son, Brian, joined him to work side-by-side to continue the Rapp auto legacy. The Superstore was much more than a business to Bruce; his employees and customers were like family to him.

Although Bruce was a lifelong Syracusan, he was a River Rat at heart. For over fifty years, his time in the Thousand Islands was his most cherished and his love of The St. Lawrence River will always be a part of the fabric of our family.

Bruce made friends everywhere he went – from Syracuse, to Alexandria Bay, to Delray Beach and far beyond. While he remained close with friends dating back to his grade school days, he was also fortunate to make many new friends in recent years that he felt like he’d known forever.

Bruce had many passions, including boating, Syracuse Orange athletics, and dogs, especially his beloved Cella, but his greatest passion was his family. The love he and his wife, Donna, shared was unparalleled. Their 50 years together were full of adventure, laughter, and a companionship that we should all be so lucky to experience. Bruce’s children were two of his best friends. The pride he felt for them was evident to all. Those relationships only grew stronger when his grandchildren were born. Bruce had always had the best sense of humor and playfulness about him – but boy did he shine when he was with Lily and Oliver.

Bruce was predeceased by his parents and his brother William C. Rapp, Jr. of Syracuse, New York. Bruce is survived by his loving wife Donna (Drucker) Rapp; his daughter Erica Wilcoxson and her husband Jay; his son Brian Rapp; his two extraordinary grandchildren Lily Kate Rapp and Oliver Wilcoxson; his brothers Jerry (Gabrielle) Rapp and Rod Rusyniak (Tom Bat); his brother-in-law Ken Drucker (Leslie Berger) and sisters-in-law Robin (Bruce) Blakely and Cher Rapp; his in-laws Jayne and Alan Drucker; 26 nieces and nephews; and countless friends whose lives he touched with his warmth and wit. He will be deeply missed by all who were lucky enough to have had him in their lives.

Because Bruce touched so many lives, we are going to honor his legacy with a tribute. Please join us for an open-house style reception to raise a glass and share your memories at The Craftsman Wood Grille & Tap House, 7300 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville, NY on Saturday, October 4th from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

In remembrance of Bruce, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the CNY SPCA, 5878 East Molloy Road, Syracuse, NY 13211, cnyspca.org or Save the River, 409 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY 13624, savetheriver.org.