Howard Herman Kaplan

It is with great sadness, we announce the passing of our husband, father, grandfather, friend and extended family of Howard Herman Kaplan on Father's Day, Sunday, June 18, 2023. Howard was born on November 27, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York to Fay Moichek Kaplan and Meyer Kaplan (both of blessed memory). Howard was the oldest of his other 2 siblings, Dennis (of blessed memory) and sister Gail. He learned the meaning of family at an early age by living close to one another and every Sunday having family dinners together with the Kaplan and Moichek extended families. He was always a hard worker and started working at the age of 12 in the neighborhood grocery store, sweeping floors and stocking shelves. At age 16, a neighbor recommended him for a summer job at Sabrett's Hot Dog company where he cut the strings off the ends of each hot dog and placed them in boxes to be transported to different vendors. This was done in a walk-in refrigerator, and he was paid $2.00 for each filled box. Howard, the competitive person he was, worked hard filling them as fast as he could. He attended Boys High School, at age 18, he joined the Army in July 1952 and was sent to Fort McClellan, in Anniston, AL for Basic Training. He was put in The Chemical Corps where he tested all kinds of deadly gases. In June 1954 he was Honorably discharged as a Corporal. After his discharge, he had the opportunity to pursue a career under the G.I. Bill by attending a school of his choice. He chose gas and electric welding, unfortunately, it was the wrong choice for him, He was bad at it, so that ended that career! In September 1955, he and a bunch of his buddies went to a dance at Hotel McAlpin in Manhattan, where Tito Puente, "The Mambo King" was performing. There he met his soulmate, Gladys Resnikoff, a High School Senior and they danced the night away. After her graduation they both found jobs, Howard, with Pechter Bread company delivering to restaurants, grocery stores and Hotels having to get up at 3 am and having to ride 3 different buses during snowstorms, rain, cold and hot weather to get to work on time. On October 13, 1956, Gladys and Howard were married. On July 15,1959 their first child arrived, Alyssa Robin. When She was a year old, Howard bought a New York City medallion and taxicab. He loved it, meeting different people and talking to Celebrities. He had debts for his cab, plus having a second child, Michael Keith, born on January 9,1962, the hard worker he was, he continued working long hours driving his cab. Until one day in August 1965, he had a shooting in his cab by a New City detective who shot and killed 2 passengers riding in the cab who had just robbed a warehouse. Frightened by this occurrence, his cousins, Sunny and Lee Horowitz, visiting from Houston, told him about the business opportunities available in Houston. Howard, the adventurous one, decided to explore Houston. On Election Day, he traveled to Houston, loved it and called Gladys and told her we're moving! On Thanksgiving Day,1965, our families gathered at the airport to say their goodbyes to all of us and we to New York. Howard started his business specializing in Women's clothing and Nurses uniforms. Later on, he got into real estate properties and built an apartment house. In his later years he worked in their party stores and in 2009 he retired at age 75. After a few months, he got bored because he could no longer play his much loved game of racquetball due to two heart attacks in 2003 and bypass surgery. Howard, the hard worker he has always been, decided to interview with the new Costco and got hired. He became the best demonstrator they ever had! He loved talking to people and working there. In September 2018, illness ended this job. Howard always loved children and animals and went to clown school where he graduated as "HowieBoy" the clown. He did charity events, children’s birthdays and visited classrooms and seniors doing magic tricks and balloon sculptures. Howard was really a shy person, but clowning brought out another side of his personality. He was very happy doing it. When his mother was at Seven Acres Nursing Home, he visited her every day and was the Kohane in the daily services and would help wheel the residents into the service. If someone needed help with a home problem, or one of his children needed him to babysit or pick them up, Howard never said no. Family was #1 in his life, his wife, children and his grandchildren always came first. He felt he wanted them to have the opportunities he never had. Family vacations were always fun, Dude Ranches, Disneyland, San Antonio, California, South Padre, Lost Pines, The Catskills, New York City, fishing trips and The Amish country. Howard and Gladys were able to travel and see Countries, States and cruise to places they could only dream of as children. Howard and Gladys shared almost 67 years of marriage. When his life peacefully ended, Gladys, Alyssa and Melanee were at his side. Before he left us, he had said, I have lived a great life. Always independent, hardworking and a loving husband, father, Poppy, son, brother, son-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend. Howard leaves behind his wife Gladys, daughters, Alyssa Korn (Jeff), Melanee Weiser (David), son, Michael, grandchildren, Alex (Julia) Kaplan, Emily Kaplan, Joshua Kaplan, Andrew Kaplan, Jamie Weiser, Sam Weiser and Ethan Korn, sister Gail Stutman (Joel), sisters-in-law, Marilyn Kaplan, Martie Weinstein, Barbara Resnikoff and several loving nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his 11 year old Maltese, Kirby, who unconditionally loved him. A private burial service was held on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, and a Memorial Service was held at Congregation Beth Yeshurun in the evening. Memorial donations may be made to Congregation Beth Yeshurun https://www.bethyeshurun.org/, The American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/ or to a charity of your choice.

Howard Herman Kaplan

November 27, 1933 - June 18, 2023