Frank Dell’Apa, an expert in the corrections field who headed up the Colorado Prison Association and fell in love with the Rocky Mountain West, died earlier this month at 90.
Dell’Apa also once led the corrections program for the in Boulder and served in the Navy during World War II. He founded the Boulder Airporter shuttle service, as well, becoming one of the early pioneers of such businesses in Colorado.
According to his son, Frank Dell’Apa Jr., the patriarch died on March 14 in New Orleans of congestive heart failure.
After serving in the Navy during World War II, he was accepted to Stanford University but on the way to California stopped to visit friends in Denver and changed his plans.
“He fell in love with (the city) because of the climate and just the opportunity to do all this stuff,” Frank Dell’Apa Jr. said. “He liked to play golf and ski. He got to love Denver really well.”
Dell’Apa enrolled at the University of Denver and received a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1951, then later a master’s degree in criminology from the University of Notre Dame in 1955, his family says. He also received a doctoral degree in special education from the University of Northern Colorado.
Dell’Apa, who was born in Hibbing, Minn., was also a probation officer for the city of Denver. His son says he liked to go the extra mile and get to know his clients to best help them excel in life.
He remained an avid athlete up until his final years. “We’ve got pictures of him playing golf up until a few years ago,” Frank Dell’Apa Jr. said.
He is survived by his wife — Edith — a daughter and three sons, as well as five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
His family said arrangements for a memorial service are pending through the Neptune Society of Metairie, La.
