SR0287 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0287 LRB097 12442 GRL 56924 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Howard Kaplan, who passed away on June 19, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Howard Kaplan was a native Chicagoan who grew up in a conservative Jewish working-class family in East Rogers Park; he met his future wife while he was a student at Sullivan High School and she was attending Senn High School; and

WHEREAS, Howard Kaplan was employed as an attorney, a certified public accountant, and a real estate developer; and

WHEREAS, Howard Kaplan was a business leader and a Jewish community activist who held important posts in local, national, and international Jewish and civic organizations for many decades; he served as chairman of the Board of Governors of Israel Bonds' Midwest office; he was a board member of the Israel Bonds national organization for more than 15 years; he served as the 1996 general campaign chairman for the Jewish United Fund; he was a past chairperson of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago; he served as president of Hadassah Associates; he was a member of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel; he was also a past president of Northwest Suburban Jewish Congregation, a trustee of Hebrew University, and chair of the Cook County Crime Commission; and

WHEREAS, Howard Kaplan is survived by his wife, Marlene; his children, Audra Kaplan Spellberg, Rhonda Katz, Bennett Kaplan, and Patrick Kaplan; his grandchildren, Emile, Ruby, Breit, Ali, Leah, Golda, Shaina, Joseph, David, Helen, Aviva, and Nathan; his sisters, Phyllis Shapps and Carole Kaplan; and his sister-in-law, Ilene Strauss; and

WHEREAS, Howard Kaplan will be remembered fondly by all who knew and loved him as a loving and devoted father and grandfather, whose kindness and dedication to his Jewish heritage served as an inspiration to all; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Howard Kaplan; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Howard Kaplan as an expression of our sympathy.