Jacqueline Segall Caplan

1935 - 2016

Jacqueline Segall Caplan

Jacqueline Segall Caplan, a long-time resident and prominent member of the Central Louisiana community passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 30, 2016, at her residence surrounded by the family she loved so much.

Funeral services for Jacque will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2016, at 10:00 A.M. in the sanctuary of Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim (Jewish Temple) at 2021 Turner St. in Alexandria. A graveside service will follow at the Jewish Cemetery in Pineville. Her daughter, Rabbi Judy Caplan Ginsburgh, will officiate and services will be under the direction of John Kramer & Son. Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 3, 2016, from 5:00-7:00 P.M. at Kramer Funeral Home.

Jacque was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 14, 1935. She attended McMain High School and graduated with highest honors and then she enrolled in the Tulane University School of Business. Jacque completed her degree at Tulane in 3 years and graduated as Valedictorian of her class. She met her future husband, Ed at Tulane and after her graduation, they married and moved to Alexandria to help manage the family business, Caplan's Men's Shop. Ed and Jacque worked together planning and growing the business for over 43 years.

Jacque had many talents. She was a true Renaissance woman. She loved music, art and theatre and shared her gifts and talents throughout the community. She directed the first musical theatre production in Central Louisiana and this was such a success that she directed dozens of musicals over the next 15 years. The Little Theatre honored her with a lifetime membership.

Jacque founded Central Louisiana Summer Student Theatre and directed musicals introducing hundreds of young people to theatre for over a dozen years. She directed musical productions and religious dramas for Alexandria Senior High School, Emmanuel Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church of Alexandria, and the Jewish Temple. Jacque also directed several children's theatre productions that traveled to schools throughout the area and she directed the first opera productions in the community.

Although Jacque never took a course in home economics, she was a gourmet cook. She gave cooking demonstrations on TV with Ethma Odum for many years and traveled the state promoting recipes using Louisiana products.

Jacque received many awards in the community and in the state. To name just a few: Louisiana Governor's Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts, the Spirit of Giving Award and Women of the Decades Award from the YWCA, Community Service Award presented by The Town Talk for being one of the Women of the Century in Central Louisiana, Alexandria Junior League Sustainer of the Year, Rotary Club Service Above Self Award.

Jacque was the first woman President of the Jewish Temple. She was Chairperson of the Rapides Regional Medical Center Board and served on the Boards of the Rapides Foundation, the Central Louisiana Community Foundation, and the Arts Council of Central Louisiana. She was an honorary co-chair of the very first Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure held in Central Louisiana and continued to volunteer each year. Jacque was named an Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of Alexandria.

She loved to travel and visited over 80 countries, 6 continents and every one of the United States.

Jacque is preceded in death by her parents, Ada and Ben Segall and her sister, Mimi Lucas of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Those left to cherish her memory are her loving husband of 61 years, Edwin J. Caplan; her children, Judy Caplan Ginsburgh and her husband, Robert of Alexandria; Stephen Caplan and his wife, Adrienne of Henderson, NV; Sherry Frye and her husband, Charlie of Henderson, NV. Her grandchildren, Rachel Ginsburgh; Aaron Ginsburgh and his wife, Mary Kathryn; Jonathan Ginsburgh; Alyssa, Sara and Anna Caplan. Her great granddaughters, Madilyn and Marlee Ginsburgh.

Pallbearers are: Stephen Caplan, Bob Ginsburgh, Aaron Ginsburgh, Jonathan Ginsburgh, David Caplan, Michael Caplan, Charlie Frye and Mark Boniol. Honorary Pallbearers are: John Caplan, Brent Caplan, Mickey Hilger, Edward Rosenblum, Jerry Feld, Dr. Bud Drerup, Chuck Fine, Michael Jurgensen, Buddy Lipsey, Dr. John and Nancy McCabe, Ed Moser, Dr. Lisso Nachman, Dr. Rick Mansour, Dr. Martin Tanner, Billy Lucas, and Connie Weil.

Special thanks to her family and friends who have been so supportive and to those members of the medical community for giving their personal attention beyond their normal areas of responsibility.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: the Jewish Temple Endowment Fund, 2021 Turner St., Alexandria, LA 71301, Arts & Healthcare, Inc., P.O. Box 12802, Alexandria, LA 71315 or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 5505, Alexandria, LA., 71307-5505.

To extend online notes of condolence to the Caplan family, please visit www.KramerFunerals.com.