4
trees
planted in memory of Glenn Philip Tapley
Obituary for Glenn Philip Tapley
On Thursday, February 11, 2021, Glenn Philip Tapley, beloved husband and father, passed away at the age of 70 after living with serious illness for many years. Despite his prolonged suffering, he found blessings in every situation, looking at life with a sense of awe, joy and humor. Raised in the Lutheran church, Glenn was deeply religious and joined the Catholic Church as an adult. He was an active member of St. Stephen’s Catholic Community in Winter Springs, FL for 28 years. Glenn had a huge heart and never knew a stranger, making lifelong friends in elevators and inviting everyone he knew to become a part of his family.
Glenn was born on October 22, 1950 in Waterbury, Connecticut to Claude D. and Elizabeth (Bean) Tapley. He grew up in Cheshire, Connecticut and after graduating from high school, enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He proudly served his country from 1970-1975 and was stationed at N.A.S. Imperial Beach, N.A.S. North Island, and overseas in Athens, Greece. He first served in a helicopter squadron and later as a Drug Abuse Rehabilitation counselor.
After an Honorable Discharge from the Navy, Glenn went on to earn a BA in Theatre from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. Following graduation, he moved to New York City where he worked professionally as an actor and became a member of SAG and AFTRA. In 1980, in pursuit of “a real job,” Glenn moved to Denver, CO where he earned an MA in Public Communications and an MBA in Finance from the University of Denver. He paid his way through college by working as both an actor and a professional poker and blackjack dealer. During these years, he denounced his self-proclaimed bachelorhood and married the true love of his life, Deborah Dugas Tapley. They enjoyed 35 years of faith, love and devotion, sharing strength and skills that complemented one another, which truly made them better together. Their greatest joy was their daughters Robyn Elizabeth Tapley and Leah Marie Tapley, along with son-in-law Truls Christian Loemo. This joy and love extended to their families, as well as numerous blessed friends and co-workers. It is also safe to say that in recent years, Glenn especially doted on his “grand-dogs” Rosie and Mango.
The majority of Glenn’s working life was spent in the field of technology, as a Technical Educator, Cisco Certified Instructor, and Rich Media Developer. Anyone who knew Glenn would describe him as an entertainer, including his students, who he enthusiastically persuaded to sing “ABC, easy as 1-2-3...” to learn the concept of binary IP addressing.
In addition to Glenn’s passions for teaching and acting, he loved singing, photography, magic, juggling, storytelling, Dad jokes and, most especially, public speaking. He spent over 40 years as a Toastmaster, earning two Distinguished Toastmaster awards and mentoring many along the way.
Glenn is preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Elizabeth Tapley and stepmother Lucille Tapley. He is survived by his wife, Debbie, daughters Robyn and Leah, son-in-law Truls, brother David W. Tapley, stepsister Arleen Johnson, stepbrother Bobby Licht and numerous cousins. He was dearly loved by his extended family, including parents-in-law Ray and Jan Dugas, brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, as well as treasured friends.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Glenn’s immense love for people and his unshakeable faith gave him the strength and hope to persevere against insurmountable odds. Faith, hope, and love guided him in life and will carry him through his next chapter.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Winter Springs, FL at 11 o’clock in the morning. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 o’clock through 11 o’clock, prior to the funeral mass. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed on Youtube. Check back for the link closer to the date. A private burial will follow at Florida National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, if so desired, the family requests that a donation be made to the American Cancer Society in Glenn’s memory.
Read More
Glenn was born on October 22, 1950 in Waterbury, Connecticut to Claude D. and Elizabeth (Bean) Tapley. He grew up in Cheshire, Connecticut and after graduating from high school, enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He proudly served his country from 1970-1975 and was stationed at N.A.S. Imperial Beach, N.A.S. North Island, and overseas in Athens, Greece. He first served in a helicopter squadron and later as a Drug Abuse Rehabilitation counselor.
After an Honorable Discharge from the Navy, Glenn went on to earn a BA in Theatre from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. Following graduation, he moved to New York City where he worked professionally as an actor and became a member of SAG and AFTRA. In 1980, in pursuit of “a real job,” Glenn moved to Denver, CO where he earned an MA in Public Communications and an MBA in Finance from the University of Denver. He paid his way through college by working as both an actor and a professional poker and blackjack dealer. During these years, he denounced his self-proclaimed bachelorhood and married the true love of his life, Deborah Dugas Tapley. They enjoyed 35 years of faith, love and devotion, sharing strength and skills that complemented one another, which truly made them better together. Their greatest joy was their daughters Robyn Elizabeth Tapley and Leah Marie Tapley, along with son-in-law Truls Christian Loemo. This joy and love extended to their families, as well as numerous blessed friends and co-workers. It is also safe to say that in recent years, Glenn especially doted on his “grand-dogs” Rosie and Mango.
The majority of Glenn’s working life was spent in the field of technology, as a Technical Educator, Cisco Certified Instructor, and Rich Media Developer. Anyone who knew Glenn would describe him as an entertainer, including his students, who he enthusiastically persuaded to sing “ABC, easy as 1-2-3...” to learn the concept of binary IP addressing.
In addition to Glenn’s passions for teaching and acting, he loved singing, photography, magic, juggling, storytelling, Dad jokes and, most especially, public speaking. He spent over 40 years as a Toastmaster, earning two Distinguished Toastmaster awards and mentoring many along the way.
Glenn is preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Elizabeth Tapley and stepmother Lucille Tapley. He is survived by his wife, Debbie, daughters Robyn and Leah, son-in-law Truls, brother David W. Tapley, stepsister Arleen Johnson, stepbrother Bobby Licht and numerous cousins. He was dearly loved by his extended family, including parents-in-law Ray and Jan Dugas, brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, as well as treasured friends.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Glenn’s immense love for people and his unshakeable faith gave him the strength and hope to persevere against insurmountable odds. Faith, hope, and love guided him in life and will carry him through his next chapter.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Winter Springs, FL at 11 o’clock in the morning. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 o’clock through 11 o’clock, prior to the funeral mass. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed on Youtube. Check back for the link closer to the date. A private burial will follow at Florida National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, if so desired, the family requests that a donation be made to the American Cancer Society in Glenn’s memory.
To plant a tree in memory of Glenn Philip Tapley, visit the Tribute Store.
Loading...