James Richard Kaplan

Peter and Anna (Volk) Kaplan and ten siblings.

He was born in Windber, Pennsylvania in 1934, where his father was a coal miner. He received

a basketball scholarship to the College of William and Mary where he had an illustrious career.

He earned his B.S. degree in 1957 and then married Jane Thompson, his college sweetheart.

Jim turned down the opportunity to play professional basketball with the St. Louis Hawks and

instead, chose to join the Army where he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and served as

a missile officer. He spent three years in Palos Verdes, California at the Nike Hercules site.

In 1961, Jim joined Cornell Dubilier Electronics as a field engineer in Los Angeles. After

advancing through the organization, Jim became president in 1978. In 1983 he headed a

leveraged buyout and acquired the company from Exxon. Over the years the company has

expanded and is now a world leader in the provider of capacitors with six manufacturing

locations and over 1,000 employees.

Jim was active in the electronics industry as a member of the Electronics Industry Association

(EIA), Vice President of the Components Group, President of the Electronics Distribution Show

(EDS) and received the electronics industries honor in 2015, the Gail S. Carter Lifetime

Achievement award.

As part of corporate life the family moved from California to Illinois then to New Jersey where

family vacations were at the Long Beach Island house. In 1998, Jane and Jim moved to

Williamsburg and lived at Governor’s Land, where Jim played the golf that he loved and served

as President of the club.

Jim was active at The College of William and Mary but his true passion was the athletic

department at the college, specifically with the basketball program. He was a trustee of The

College of William and Mary Endowment Association, a member of the Board of Directors of

the Alumni Society, the President’s Council, a member of the William and Mary Athletic Hall of

Fame and was awarded the alumni Distinguished Military award.

Supporting his favorite causes gave him such pleasure. Among others, Medical College of

Virginia became one of these, being a member of the Discovery Society Board. Jim loved St.

Bede Catholic Church, especially the Catholic Campus Ministry.

Family was the biggest part of Jim’s life. He loved being with all of them and never hesitated in

giving them advice.

He is survived by his wife Jane of 65 years, their children Paula Dugan (Peter), Michael, James

(Julee), and Margaret Kaplan; grandchildren Amy Cobb (Brandon), Alison Pilgrim (Nate); Jack

(Sarah Manfredo), Annie, Patrick, Peter and Maggie Dugan; Jamie, Claire and Tomson Kaplan.

great-grandchildren Elizabeth, Wesley & Jack; and brother-in-law Paul Thompson and family.

The Memorial service will be held at St. Bede, Friday July 8, at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kaplan Family Men’s Basketball Scholarship Endowment.

Interment will be private.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com for the Kaplan family.