Joseph Laponis

December 24, 1932-April 23, 2022     

 Joseph Laponis, longtime Ontario, CA. resident and respected educator, passed away April 23rd, 2022 at home following a battle with cancer.

Born in 1932 in Detroit, the family relocated to Ontario in 1947. While attending Chaffey High School, Joseph met the love of his life, Billie Taylor, and later married in 1953 at St. George Catholic Church.

He started his career as a 5th grade teacher. He served 38 years as a school principal, first in the Ontario Montclair School District at Central, Hawthorne, and Mariposa schools. Later he joined the Alta Loma School District as principal at Alta Loma Elementary, and then became the first principal of Victoria Groves. After retiring, he spent the next 26 years as an adjunct professor supervising student teachers for Cal State San Bernardino, National University and the University of La Verne. 

Joseph is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Billie, who passed in 2019; parents Joseph and Anna Laponis; and sister, Therese Schoofs. He is survived by his brother James (Linda) Laponis of Santa Barbara; brother -in-law Richard Schoofs; son Michael (Ruby) Laponis of Rancho Cucamonga; son Daniel (Karen) Laponis of Ontario; son Steven Laponis of Ontario; seven grandsons and two great granddaughters.

A memorial service will take place at St. George Catholic Church in Ontario, Friday, May 20th at 10am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made payable to: VNA Hospice & Palliative Care of Southern California, 2151 E. Convention Center Way, Suite #100, Ontario, CA. 91764