Traphagen was born in Nyack, New York on October 20, 1889 into a family long associated with politics and business.
[4] In 1931 during the Great Depression, Traphagen became president of the Bank of New York, and successfully guided the institution through it with significantly increased deposits.
Upon the election of Albert C. Simmonds Jr. as president in 1948,[5] he became chairman of the bank, serving until his retirement in 1957.
Her grandfather, William Voorhis, was a member of the New York State Assembly for Rockland County and served as Commodore of the Atlantic Yacht Club.
[4] Traphagen died at St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut on October 2, 1979.