Sidmon Joel Kaplan of Providence, RI, and Tucson, AZ, and formerly of Cleveland, Ohio, passed away on Sept. 16, 2022. Born in Buffalo and raised in Cleveland, Mr. Kaplan graduated from Western Reserve Academy (WRA) in 1952 and Washington and Lee University in 1956. He completed basic training in the Army in 1957.
Mr. Kaplan was predeceased by his beloved wife of 64 years, Barbara Bing Kaplan. He is survived by four children, Janice Kaplan (Michael Allen) of Washington, DC, Mary Jo Kaplan (Scott Triedman) of Providence, Doug Kaplan (Amy Kaplan) of Chicago, and Linda Kaplan (Neal Steingold) of Providence; a sister, Mickey (Ronnie) Lipton of Miami, and grandchildren Satchel (Alyssa), Halle, Hudson, Natalie (Warren), Lucy (Drew), Cole, Cooper, Gil, Sarah and Benjamin. He was the son of the late Mildred and Edward Ely Kaplan.
Beginning in 1961, Mr. Kaplan was the owner and CEO of Landseair Travel, located in Cleveland. In 1982, he sold his agency to Prescott, Ball and Turban, merging with their travel division and becoming President of the largest travel business in Cleveland, also overseeing multiple Midwest locations. His profession and love of travel took him and Barbara around the world. Favorite destinations included Sydney; London; Bermuda; New Orleans; Sun Valley, ID; Gainesville, FL; Boothbay Harbor, ME, and Hudson, OH.
Mr. Kaplan met his wife at dancing school when they were 13. They continued to dance through life at proms, formals and weddings. As an adult, Mr. Kaplan was a competitive tennis player and voracious eater, especially three-pound lobsters and hot fudge sundaes. A generous philanthropist, together with family and friends, he established the Kaplan Scholarship Fund to support Jewish students at WRA.
A private family funeral service will be held in Providence with burial at Swan Point Cemetery. Shiva will be held at the home of Linda Kaplan on Wednesday, September 21, 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, 200 Niantic Ave., Providence, RI 02907 or to WRA’s Kaplan Scholarship Fund, 115 College Street, Hudson, Ohio 44236.
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