Elaine Lois Kaplan

Elaine Lois (Sanders) Kaplan was born on May 4, 1925, in New York and died on January 22, 2026, in Boca Raton, Fla.

After graduating from Far Rockaway High School in Queens, N.Y., Elaine attended City College of New York.

She was an administrative worker at the Empire State Building before marrying Edwin Kaplan on March 2, 1963, and moving to Massachusetts.

The couple lived in Brighton, Mass., during the birth of sons Steve and Rick before eventually settling into their longtime home in Newton, Mass.

An active member of Temple Beth Avoda in Newton, Elaine also was an officer with her local chapter of the B'nai B'rith Women. She traveled to elementary schools around the Boston area while volunteering with B'nai B'rith Women's "Dolls For Democracy" program. The dolls depicted diverse historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Helen Keller, Abraham Lincoln and Jackie Robinson, and Elaine would give the children insight into the significance of each person represented.

When the boys grew older, Elaine returned to the workforce in jobs she was proud of, at the Fernald School that assisted developmentally delayed adults and at the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization. She also attended classes and became a bat mitzvah after both of her sons became bar mitzvahs.

The consummate hostess, Elaine enjoyed opening her home to family and friends, who got to appreciate her talent for cooking.

After retirement, Elaine and Ed moved to Wynmoor in Coconut Creek, Fla., briefly maintaining a home in Framingham, Mass., before settling in Florida year-round. The couple traveled the world and delighted in sharing their stories and photo slides with family and friends. Elaine also increased her interest in art, and she took a sketch book on her travels, capturing the scenery on multiple continents.

Always enamored with children, Elaine would carry balloons in her pocket during her trips, and she would blow them up to make kids smile. She also loved to high-five children all over the world, saying that the high-five was a universal language.

Elaine and Ed maintained an active social life with numerous friends wherever they lived. During their time in Coconut Creek, Elaine took up golf and enjoyed her art classes.

Elaine and Ed eventually moved to Edgewater at Boca Pointe in Boca Raton, Fla., where Elaine served on the culinary committee and was a regular presence front and center for concerts, cultural events and lectures. The couple also attended adult education classes at Florida Atlantic University. Elaine was thrilled to have her brisket recipe featured in the local newspaper, along with her photo.

Elaine adored grandchildren Seth, Arin and Angela; sons Steve and Rick; and daughter-in-law Patty. All were in attendance along with other family members and friends to celebrate her 100th birthday in May 2025.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to B'nai B'rith International or an Alzheimer's-related charity.