Don Rappeport, the founder of Donlen, passed away on Friday, April 6, 2012, the company announced. He was 85.
Rappeport founded the company in 1965 with partner Lee Vine. He served as CEO until retiring in 2001, but remained involved with the company as chairman of the board until 2011. Donlen, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hertz Corp, is a provider of comprehensive, integrated financing and asset management solutions.
In 2008, Rappeport was inducted into the Automotive Fleet Hall of Fame.
A lifelong Illinois resident, Rappeport enlisted in the Navy after graduating from Lakeview High School, where he was stationed on the USS Kimball during World War II. He graduated from the University of Illinois.
Memorial donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org.
