He helped people get their start

He was a co-founder of his own business and always helped others with a job or an employment connection, said Phyllis Trapani, whose husband Stephan died at Woodmere Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Woodmere on Aug. 15. He was 69.

A 33-year resident of North Woodmere, Trapani was a Bronx native who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Hofstra University. He served nearly four years in the Air Force between 1959 and November 1963 as an air military policeman and attained the rank of sergeant. In 1972, on Sept. 23, he and Phyllis were married.

Trapani co-founded U.S. Coffee, Inc. with Lowell Schindler, who also recently died. Now their sons Richard Trapani and Douglas Schindler run the business that provides coffee vending services to businesses in the tri-state area. It began in Valley Stream and moved to Hicksville.

“He was a very kind and generous person,” Phyllis said. “He was always helping to get family, and friends, his son’s friend started in life. If they asked for a job he helped everybody.”

Trapani is survived by Phyllis, Richard and his wife Dena, son Adam and his wife Reena, grandchildren Presley and Zachary, his mother Dorothy and sister-in-law Virginia Grande.

A funeral service presided over by Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum was held at Boulevard-Riverside Chapel in Hewlett on Aug. 17. Trapani was interred at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale.

“He was a very fun loving and giving person,” Richard said.