Assemblyman remembered for public service

"Beyond the gruff exterior he was a human being that would do anything for anyone and he was a solid Democrat,” said former state Senate President John Burton.

Papan, 78, died Saturday from complications associated with a heart attack. He leaves behind a legacy of making things happen with sheer will power and know-how. Papan was best known as an advocate for disabled children and authored bills to restore the aging Hetch Hetchy water system, revamped the state retirement and workers’ compensation plans and helped to create the state Public Records Act. However, it is Papan’s spirit to help the underdog that solidifies his legacy. Whether it was the story of a firefighter with cancer who couldn’t get workers’ compensation benefits or a elderly woman who couldn’t afford to bury her own daughter, Papan fought for the underdog, those who worked with Papan in the Legislature said.

"He was extraordinarily generous,” said David Burruto, who worked three years as a Papan staffer. Burruto now works as district director for state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco/San Mateo.

One day while Burruto worked for Papan, a grandmother, daughter and grandson walked into the office worried that the young man wouldn’t graduate high school because of learning disabilities. Both the mother and grandmother were teachers who spent years helping the young man, they told Burruto.

When Papan heard about the problem he "on the spot, called then state Superintendent of Education Delaine Easton” and asked her how she would feel about him sponsoring a bill that would address the learning disabled at graduation. She liked the idea and Papan made the pitch to the Legislature. The bill ultimately failed, but his spirit to help the underdog never waned, Burruto said.

Papan’s public service came at an early age.

Born in Springfield, Mass., Papan was named Elias Papandricoupolos, according to a campaign Web site. His name was mistakenly listed on his birth certificate as Louis because the doctor who delivered him was not familiar with the name Elias. Papan spoke only Greek before he entered school.

A 17-year-old Papan talked his father into letting him sign up for the U.S. Army. His father told the recruiters, according to family lore, "hopefully you can make a man out of him.” Papandricoupolos’ 16-letter last name almost completely encircled his Army helmet. He was enlisted at the end of World War II and served time in Europe after the end of the war and later served as a first lieutenant in the Air Force during the Korean War, daughter Gina Papan said.

Following the Army, Lou went to Syracuse University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in economics. As an Air Force reservist in college, upon graduation, he served as a first lieutenant during the Korean Conflict. After Korea, Lou entered Georgetown Law School and then attended the F.B.I. Academy. As a Special Agent for the F.B.I., he was sent to San Francisco.

He met and married his wife, Irene Damis, a Portland, Ore. native studying at Mills College. He left the FBI to stay in the Bay Area and pursue real estate sales. He and Irene raised three children, John, Diane and Gina in Daly City.

John Papan, the oldest of the Papan children, suffered from strokes at the age of 2. By 13, he was diagnosed with a rare congenital illness that threatened his life. John Papan died at the age of 21 with a vascular system similar to that of 91-year-old, doctors told the Papan family.

However, it was his devotion to family that earned him the nickname "Leadfoot Lou” while serving in the California Assembly. He would often speed between Sacramento and the Bay Area to visit his ailing son, friends and family said.

Lou and his late wife, Irene, carried on John’s spirit after his passing by starting a scholarship in his name and a nonprofit clothing bank, John’s Closet, that provides new clothes to needy children. In doing so, John’s Closet seeks to promote self-esteem and encourage kids to stay in school, according to Gina Papan.

A dispute with the city over a group of trees planted in his back yard was the catalyst for his political career. The trees were causing the hill to fail and the city refused to fix the problem. Papan decided to run for City Council. He lost his first bid, but won his second in the late 1960s. The man in charged of the trees had already retired by the time Papan took office, said Gina Papan.

Papan ran for the Assembly in 1972, where he served for 20 years until 1986. He was elected Assembly speaker pro Tempore in 1974. In the Assembly, Papan was a strong ally of former Assembly speaker Willie Brown and was given the nickname of "The Enforcer” as chair of the state Assembly Rules Committee.

In 1986, he left to unsuccessfully run against Quentin Kopp, an independent, for his eighth district Senate seat which represented both portions of San Francisco and San Mateo counties.

After the loss, he served again in the Assembly from 1996-2002. He always received a large percentage of the electorate’s votes.

While in the Legislature, he had no problem sparring with opponents and had a well-documented dispute feud with then state senator Jackie Speier over his lack of support of her consumer privacy bill. It was Speier who later enlisted South San Francisco mayor Gene Mullin to run against Gina Papan in her unsuccessful 2002 quest to fill her father’s seat after former supervisor Mike Nevin’s Daly City house was redistricted out.

According to his family, however, Papan worked tirelessly to champion the causes of children, workers and families. He wrote numerous laws improving public instruction for disabled students and the required reporting of child and elder abuse, and authored legislation establishing childcare centers for families with business before the courts.

He also authored legislation to help firefighters suffering from life-threatening illnesses as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals while on the job.

"He always had a way of representing the people with no voice at all. But, he was a statesman about it,” Gina Papan said.

As chair of the Assembly Rules Committee, Papan oversaw the restoration of the state Capitol, a six-year project completed on time and under its $67 million budget. The building now bears a plaque with his name on it.

"He was seriously in it to make a difference. He taught me that one voice can make a difference,” said Gina Papan.

Papan is survived by his daughters Virginia Papan and Diane Papan, Son-in Law Dan Latini and grand daughter Alexa Papan Latini. Virginia (Gina) is a Millbrae councilwoman and deputy state attorney general. Diane is an attorney in private practice. The sisters serve as the directors of John’s Closet.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.

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A Trisigion, or memorial service, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3 at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 999 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco, CA 94132.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 4 at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 999 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco, Calif. 94132.

A graveside ceremony following the funeral service will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park located at Skyline Boulevard and State Route 92 in San Mateo, Calif. 94402. A reception following the graveside ceremony will be held at the Air Transport Employees Local Lodge 1781 Union Hall, located at 1511 Rollins Road, Burlingame, Calif. 94010.

Donations in memory of Lou Papan can be made to the John Papan Memorial Fund, 440 Green Hills Drive, Millbrae, Calif. 94030.