Arthur Kaplan

Born in Boston on March 13, 1933, he had an accomplished life. Art graduated

from Brookline (MA) High School in 1950, and then went to the Massachusetts

Institute of Technology, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in

Physics (1954) followed by a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering

(1955). Art served his country in the United States Air Force on active duty

from 1955 through 1957, and then in the Air Force Reserves after that until

1972. During his years of service, he worked on nuclear research programs in

the Nevada desert outside of Las Vegas. He retired with the rank of captain.

In the 1960s, he began a more than 30 year career with General Electric

Company, interrupted briefly by work for the US Department of Defense and a

vigorous, but unsuccessful attempt to start his own business. Art's work as

a physicist and nuclear engineer for GE took him from Boston MA to Syracuse

NY and back to Boston in the 1960s and early 70s, down to Wilmington NC from

1972-81, and then to Cleveland OH in 1981. Art retired from GE in 1993 to

start his own consulting business, Environmental Engineering. He remained

active as a consultant to several companies, including Sony Corporation,

until January 2020.

Art loved to travel and, starting in the 1980s, his career brought him

opportunities to see the world, as GE sent him to work on projects in many

countries including Germany, Turkey, Hungary, Japan, the Philippines and

several places in Central and South America. Since his wife Edith loved to

travel too, Art often brought her with him on his trips. Together, they also

visited many countries in Europe and also went to Israel.

Art was a devoted husband to Edith for more than 58 years. Art and Edith

gave back to the communities where he lived. They were devout, long time and

active members of Congregation Shaarey Tikvah Synagogue in Beachwood OH.

They went frequently, donated and belonged to the Cleveland Symphony and the

Cleveland Museum of Art. He and Edith shared these passions, and many more,

joyously over the years, until she passed away in 2015.

Up until his heart surgery in late January 2020, Art volunteered at

Montifiore Rehabilitation Center in Beachwood, where he had received

treatment several times. Art was a proud member of the MIT Alumni and

Reserve Officers Associations and of the prestigious General Electric Elfun

Society. He also belonged to the Health Physics Society and numerous other

scientific organizations. He stayed actively involved and interested in

scientific issues until the end of his life.

Of all the interests and activities Art loved and participated in throughout

his life, none gave him more pleasure than his family. He and Edith were

always involved, interested and supportive parents and grandparents. Art is

survived by his son Harry Kaplan and daughter Judy Kaplan, his

daughter-in-law Dona Kaplan, and his grandchildren Jackson Kaplan and Hayley

Kaplan. Art was predeceased by his wife Edith, his sister Claire, and his

parents Herbert and Stella Kaplan.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern

NC for the Food Bank at Wilmington capital campaign. Donations can be made

online at foodbankcenc.org/ilm or mailed to the Food Bank of Central &

Eastern NC, Attn: Wilmington Capital Campaign, 1924 Capital Boulevard,

Raleigh, NC 27604. In honor of Edith's work over many years on farmers'

markets in Wilmington NC, Art was donating to this Food Bank project. The

new facility, scheduled to open in 2022, will increase the Food Bank's

capacity to nourish people, empower communities and build resiliency across

North Carolina's Cape Fear region. Services will be held Wednesday December 23,

2020 at Zion Memorial Park (Sha'arey Tikvah Section)