Obituary of Gerald Philip Kaplan

GERALD (JERRY) PHILIP KAPLAN
October 11, 1934 - December 16, 2024

Gerald (Jerry) Philip Kaplan passed away peacefully in Belfast, Maine on December 16, 2024 of complications from pneumonia. He was the beloved husband of Marsha Kaplan, father of Charles Kaplan and Ellie (Robert) Lynch, grandfather of six, caring friend to former wife Gwen Kaplan, and devoted friend to many. He was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Jean Kaplan, and his older brother Arnold.

Jerry was born and raised in Chicago. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from Northwestern University. He also graduated from Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, RI and served for two years aboard the USS Robinson. Subsequently, he moved to Wilton and then Westport, CT and had a long career at IBM in strategy and planning. He and Marsha moved to Belfast in 1998.

Jerry served for several years as the treasurer of Belfast Senior College and volunteered with the Pen Bay Stewards program. He was a 15-year volunteer at the Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport, where he catalogued and digitized their historic glass-plate photograph collection. From 2004 - 2018 he also served as Chief Financial Officer (an unpaid position!) at Left Bank Books, the Belfast bookshop co-founded by Marsha and two partners in 2004.

Jerry adored reading, the symphony, opera, gardening, sailing, three newspapers daily, and his long morning walks -- usually with earbuds in to listen to something interesting. His smile was the best smile in the world.

His family thinks he was the kindest, sweetest, and most caring man -- smart, thoughtful, generous, loving, first to praise, endlessly forgiving, and the most wonderful listener, especially to his grandchildren's news. He will be loved always and greatly missed.

A funeral will be held on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 11 a.m., with lunch to follow, at Adas Yoshuron Synagogue, 50 Willow Street in Rockland, ME. Shiva will be at home, 15 Anderson Street, Belfast, on Monday, January 6, from 3 to 5 pm. All are welcome.

If you wish, contributions in memory might be made to Waldo County General Hospital, c/o MaineHealth Philanthropy, 3 Glen Cove Drive, Suite 2, Rockport, ME 04856, or the charity of your choice.

Memories and condolences may be shared on his tribute wall.