OBITUARY
Stuart Ronald Kaplan
April 1, 1932 – February 9, 2021
Stuart Ronald Kaplan was born on April 1, 1932 in the Bronx. As a kid he loved playing stickball with his friends and getting an egg cream from the corner shop. He was one of five students in the inaugural class of Cardigan Mountain School in New Hampshire, graduating in 1947. In 2015 he was asked to deliver the commencement speech. He shared with the graduating students how that school experience had transformed him from a shy, skinny kid who had been reluctant to leave the familiarity of his neighborhood to an independent and adventuresome young man, who would embrace every opportunity life offered.
After graduation, the teenaged Stuart embarked on a 14-month solo adventure throughout Europe and the Middle East, culminating with a stay in the walled city of Laghouat, Algeria at the base of the Atlas Mountains. On New Year’s Eve Stuart wandered alone out into the vast desert. This would be a profound moment of realization for the young traveler. Taking in the expansiveness of the open desert, he knew he was ready to embrace the infinite possibilities that lay before him.
After completing his travels, Stuart applied to and was accepted at Le Sorbonne in Paris. While visiting Orleans in the Loire Valley, Stuart met a young American girl named Marilyn who would become his wife. After graduating Le Sorbonne, he attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. While a student he devised a card dating game, Student Survival, which his children and wife Marilyn would later help assemble in the basement of their Port Chester home, the very first of many jobs in their father’s business.
After graduation, Stuart worked on Wall Street managing coal mines and wrote an exhaustively researched book called Mining, Minerals and Geosciences in 1965. The book would sell millions and garnered major awards. In 1968 while travelling for business in Europe, he attended the Nuremberg Toy Fair in search of gifts for his children and game ideas. He discovered an intriguing deck of cards unlike anything he had ever seen before. He brought the pack of Swiss 1JJ tarot back to New York and started selling it to bookstores. The deck began to sell well but there was no instruction book available, so Stuart wrote Tarot Cards for Fun and Fortune Telling. With these products Stuart launched U.S. Games Systems, Inc. the first company to sell tarot products in the U.S. He chose the Fool tarot card as the company logo because it represents the willingness to take a leap of faith and follow an unchartered path. (And his birthday is April 1, April Fool’s Day) Stuart would go on to write other best-selling tarot books, as well as a four-volume Encyclopedia of Tarot. Stuart also acquired the rights to publish the Rider-Waite deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, which would become the most popular and beloved tarot deck in the world. Stuart made it his mission to bring Pamela Colman Smith the recognition she richly deserved. He spent years researching Smith and collecting her original art and publications, which would be showcased in his book Pamela Colman Smith: The Untold Story.
Stuart was also an avid collector of antiquarian books, ephemera, historical items, and vintage playing cards and games, particularly Authors Card Games. His impressive collections were displayed in major museums around the world. His last big research and writing project was The Authors Card Game Compendium. Stuart’s passion for work never waned, and it inspired everyone around him.
Stuart was an amazing and kind father to his five children and eight grandchildren. He was a Boy Scout Troop leader and enjoyed camping, fishing and road trips with the family. During later years, while running his company he somehow found the time and energy to play tennis with old friends. Besides his family, Stuart leaves behind his loving partner of 24 years, Bobbie Bensaid and their beloved dog Lili.
Stuart’s gentle and generous nature attracted many wonderful employees to U.S. Games over the years and he grew the company into a loving second family. He was committed to doing good in the world - with his family, friends, business, and community. We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
Services
No public services are scheduled at this time. Receive a notification when services are updated.
Memories
Stuart Ronald Kaplan
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ADD A MEMORYJohn Mangiapane
February 19, 2021
Bless you, Mr. Kaplan! The world of Tarot cards and Readers owe a debt of gratitude to you for preserving and making the Rider Waite Smith deck the most popular deck in the world. Rest in Peace.
John Mangiapane, Tarot Reader, author, and Tarot deck designer
MARK manero
February 17, 2021
Mr. Kaplan was one of my first customers when i started my buisness 36 years ago. he always helped me out and was always great person to talk to and listen to. great man, smart man, Mrs. Kaplan was also one of the nicest people in the world, great kids and they had a pet dog years ago, and lily, i knew he loved that dog too. he will be missed by many. very sad he has passed. sincerly, mark manero
Eric Volk
February 15, 2021
Each day I am using tarot, I am using a piece of Stuart. Thank you for what you did for the tarot community. You will be greatly missed.
David Johnson
February 14, 2021
I was witness for one of his company holiday parties in December. He was like a proud father looking onto the event and a true father to every employee. He was my "game" teacher and had a deep antique game knowledge base. I always enjoyed my time just talking with him. Sorrow is the price we pay for love, Queen Elizabeth II. There is a little more sorrow in the world because he was so loved. He was an angle in life and now it is official.
James Plogger
February 13, 2021
As a professional Tarot Consultant I pick up a piece of Mr Kaplan every day. What he did for us and the great debt we owe to him can never be paid. Thank you for everything ❤. G-d bless you and your family. Shalom.
Mary McCauley
February 12, 2021
I send my condolences to Mr. Kaplan's family. Mr. Kaplan, rest in peace and thank you for sharing your enthusiasm and collections of Tarot cards with the world. You have created much enjoyment for many of us over the years. You were instrumental in bringing Tarot cards to the masses, not only in the U.S. but across the world...
Lisa Hanrahan
February 11, 2021
Dear Kaplan family,
Rockpool Publishing is very sad to hear of Stuarts' passing. He was a very clever Publisher and a gentleman. We are honoured to have worked with him and share his love of beautiful product and quality writing. We hope to see his legacy live on.
Kind Regards,
Lisa Hanrahan
Publishing Director
Rockpool Publishing
Nancy Rosin
February 11, 2021
Stuart was such a genuine, kind gentleman – I am heartbroken at his passing -- we just shared such positive emails a month ago! Our special friendship began through The Ephemera Society of America, where he sat on our Board, and it became deep, lasting, and personal. He proudly shared his collections, his office, and the beautiful home he and Bobbi created. He was a treasure, and I will cherish the memory of his friendship. To the entire family, I send my most sincere condolences. May he rest in peace.
Bruce Shyer
February 11, 2021
I was very saddened to hear of Stuart’s passing. Stuart was a long-time, enthusiastic supporter of The Ephemera Society of America, Inc. He was generous with both his time and expertise. I had the pleasure of serving with him on its Board of Directors. He generously hosted an amazing dinner for the Society in Greenwich. He was the consummate gentleman, always willing to do something kind and helpful for others. The entire ephemera community will dearly miss him and will always honor his memory. My deepest sympathies to his family, Bruce Shyer
Amy Zerner & Monte FArber
February 11, 2021
We always were so fond of Stuart. We were greatly influenced in our careers by his Aries enthusiasm - he bravely kept the torch of tarot alive and shining. He planted the seed in our hearts and minds of our Enchanted Tarot, encouraging it to come to life. So happy that he did! He was great fun to be around and so savvy about art and ideas and how a project should come to life. RIP.
Andrew Theitic
February 11, 2021
Our deepest condolences go to Stuart's family, friends and staff at U.S. Games. I am grateful to say that I met Stuart in the 1970s, and that his memory will not be forgotten. Not forgotten by me, or by the countless numbers of occultists and metaphysicians who owe a debt to the pioneer that he was. His passing marks a historic change in the world of Tarot.
May his light shine on in the next world, as it did in this.
The Staff of The Witches' Almanac
Alim Thompson
February 11, 2021
Oh Stuart, in our many years of doing business together, we saw each other too little. Sharing a meal at BEA in the later years was always for me, a highlight of the event. I believe you may have been the last standing of the great pioneering metaphysical publishers of the 20th Century. You enriched the lives of millions of practitioners and novices all over the world, and I imagine you and our friend Donald Weiser together again celebrating the lives you touched. My deepest condolences to Bobbi and the rest of the family as well as the staff at US Games. Thank you for everything my friend.
Judith Hawkins-Tillirson
February 11, 2021
I was the buyer for USGames Systems for New Leaf Distributing for almost 25 years. Once this Southern girl understood the ways in which folk of the Northern persuasion communicated, my phone conversations with him ceased to end with tears (mine).
We bonded at a Willie Nelson concert at an American Booksellers Association (now BEA) trade show in 1988—Simon & Schuster had just released his biography.
No-one knew more about Tarot than Stuart. He was always kind and generous with me; and provided me with memories that I’ll take to my urn. I’m so very sorry to read of his passing!
Melinda Parsons
February 11, 2021
I've known Stuart for 50 years or so, and he's always been encouraging and supportive of my work on Pamela Colman Smith. He also was supportive regarding my personal life--he gave me a beautiful cut-glass vase when I married, and sent a humongous hamper of food (much appreciated) when my husband Gary died unexpectedly in 2018.
More importantly, Stuart established the modern tarot "industry", publishing book after book, and deck after deck. But I'm so glad he was able to see the astonishingly beautiful final book in his oeuvre, "Pamela Colman Smith; the Untold Story".
Claudio Carvalho
February 11, 2021
My wife Lilia and I are very sorry for the death of Mr. Stuart Ronald Kaplan. May the family be comforted in this moment of pain. Our condolences to the whole family.
Michael Kerber
February 11, 2021
We have lost the last of the great, foundational metaphysical publishers of the 20th century. Stuart Kaplan was a Hierophant for us all. He was a friend and colleague. Always generous with his time. His vision and drive inspired. He will be missed. And we are grateful to have shared a small part of his remarkable journey.
The staff of Red Wheel/Weiser
Ken & Joan Fisher
February 11, 2021
Truly a man among men. His accomplishments are well-known and impressive but it is the quality of the person that shines through. Who he was is more important than what he did. Stuart said what he meant and meant what he said. Kind and generous when appropriate but decisive and pragmatic when necessary. He leaves this world a better place than when he arrived. A man can do no more.
RAUL T.
February 11, 2021
My deepest condolences for this tragic loss . Mr. Kaplan was a visionary , we all in TAROT and Cartomancy learned to appreciate his works, his dedication . He was a source of inspiration to all of us indeed. Long live his memory and what he did , rest in peace.
Karen Schumann
February 11, 2021
My deepest sympathies go to Stuart Kaplan's family, friends, and coworkers at US Games. I have don't know how to express how much Mr. Kaplan meant to me. He was my first teacher in the field of tarot, tarot history and the myriad possibilities of what tarot could accomplish. His Encyclopedia of Tarot books were a revelation to me. I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his dedication and enthusiasm. Hail the Traveler!
Sharyn/AJ Woerz
February 11, 2021
I know he was so much more to those who knew him personally, but as an outsider, I'd like to say thanks to his memory for just being the keeper of so much card history and historical material. For publishing quality decks. For the funny back and forth he and I had over a missing Halloween Tarot book :) I sent him ten dollars, I hope he didn't spend it all in one place. Thank you Mr. Kaplan
AMIGO Spiel + Freizeit GmbH
February 11, 2021
It is with deep regret that we learned of the death of our much regarded partner Stuart.
We will always be grateful that we were able to work with this kind and charismatic man for so many years.
Those of us who were lucky enough to get to know Stuart will fondly remember these pleasant and friendly get-togethers.
A man goes, the memories of him remain.
The whole AMIGO team
Elizabeth O'Connor
February 10, 2021
Stuart was a truly exceptional person, who I am so glad that I had the opportunity to know. I am honored to have played a small role in helping to promote the legacy of Pamela Colman Smith. Sending love and condolences to his family.
Anna Anopova
February 10, 2021
Let me offer my condolences! I grieve very much with you. It was a great experience to meet Stuart Kaplan and great loss for everyone...
Pignatiello Mario
February 10, 2021
I still remember the first time we met. In that cold American winter I saw your collection of ancient cards, and I smelled the paper of Tarot just printed. Through the years we got closer and farther as we walked through life. Rest in peace, Stuart. Mario and Lo Scarabeo
Stijn Vankerckhoven
February 10, 2021
I have no words for this loss. My deepest condolences to the entire family. And it was like yesterday that we had such a beautiful evening together with Bobby, Luc and Silke. This makes you feel a little bit quiet. Glad to have known Stuart. That he may rest in peace.