Photo by Franz Hall, courtesy Ralph Rapson & Associates

Ralph Rapson, FAIA, regarded as one of the foremost architectural draftsmen of the 20th century and Minnesota’s premier Modern architect, died of heart failure on March 29 at his Minneapolis residence. He was 93 and still working at his office the day before. “For him, it wasn’t really work, it was what he enjoyed the most. He was drawing a cabin and making furniture designs,” says his son Toby, president of Rapson and Associates. Drawing was one of Rapson’s special talents and professional trademarks, despite the loss of his right arm, which was amputated during boyhood. He used his left hand as deftly as any artist.