Elizabeth (Schnur) Kaplan

Elizabeth Kaplan, 87, of Simsbury, CT died on July 16, 2023 surrounded by family after a long life and a brief illness. Born in Frankfurt Germany, December 31 1935 (her words) “not as a welcome tax deduction nor an occasion for a happy New Years Eve party but the beginning of the most painful years of our people’s history– the Nuremberg Laws had just been passed.” In September 1939, her family escaped Germany, became stateless refugees in England and were separated. All members of Elizabeth’s immediate family survived the war– reuniting in Leicester where Liz learned English and began her life-long love of tennis and reading. At 17, she arrived in the US, studied at Hunter College at night while working full time. In 1959, she obtained US citizenship, her first subscription to the New Yorker, and met (and promptly married in 1960) the love of her life (and the life of the party) Bert Kaplan. Liz spent the next decades of her life as an executive while ensuring her home was kept, wallpaper hung, and her kids clothed and doing homework. She was a consummate host, a caring friend, a fierce bridge player, enthusiastic cook, proud mother and devoted grandmother. Above all, she was an intellectual– a voracious reader, who adored libraries– with a special fondness for the Leicester childrens’ librarian who allowed her to check out any book she desired while she was a child, and the Simsbury Library, her second home for 45 years. She loved discussing history and current events with her grandchildren. Always willing to entertain contrary opinions - as long as they were well-argued. With Bert, she explored 60 countries on 6 continents. We’re devastated to lose such a funny, bright and loving force of nature. Liz was predeceased by her parents Aron and Scheindel Schnur, brother Sigmund, and husband Bert. She is survived by her children Neil and Adele Kaplan and Nancy Kaplan and Andy Raubvogel; grandchildren Max, Jeffrey, Julie & Harry Kaplan; Lily & Jacob Weissgold; and step-grandchildren Graham Raubvogel and Sandra Tan, Emmett Werbel, and Lily Hauser; sister Ida Shedletsky and sister-in-law Diane Rosenthal and their families. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation, 55 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury, CT 06070. Funeral at FVJC Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 11am. The family will be sitting shiva on Thursday and Friday at 5pm at Liz’s home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation, 55 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury, CT 06070.

The family will be sitting shiva on Thursday and Friday at 5pm at Liz’s home.