Dorothy E. KAPLAN

KAPLAN, Dorothy E.
Dec. 17, 1927-Oct. 15, 2012
Dorothy passed away peacefully after complications from heart disease at the Beverly Hills Rehabilitation Centre. Dorothy experienced a rich, eventful, and colorful life. She was the single child of the late Gilbert and Lillian Eisenberg, born in Mexico City. At the age of four she moved to New York followed by residences in Los Angeles, Pasadena and San Diego where she graduated from San Diego High in 1945. Dorothy attended San Diego State and UC Berkeley followed by the University of Southern California (USC), where she graduated with a Degree in Psychology in 1949. It was at USC where she met future husband Norman Kaplan. Wed in 1950, they were married for 49 years. Dorothy worked for a leading research Endocrinologist (Jessie Marmorston) from USC and an Academy Award Winning Movie Producer (Leonard Weingarten) as a Personal Assistant while Norman attended Medical School at USC. She gave birth to three children during these years, Hunter, Randy and Andrea. Dorothy exhibited a zeal for obtaining the maximum fulfillment in life through education, cultural events volunteerism and travel. Dorothy led family and friends on relentless sightseeing expeditions over the years. She particularly liked to explore grand hotels. She traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Israel, Egypt, and Africa. She was also an avid dog lover with five different family dogs over her lifetime. Dorothy had a variety of interests, including: Interior decorating, painting, attending the theater, and visiting museums. For a period of time, she became fascinated by the law, attending law school, and observing many trials in the L.A. area. She became especially interested in legal ethics, and was appointed the first law student on the State Bar Ethics Commission in California. In the Community, Dorothy was active for over 25 years as a docent at the Museum of Science & Industry Hall of Health, and President of Cedars Medical Wives and Bay Area Physicians' Wives Auxiliaries. She supported the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge mentored by close friend Diane Deshong, Semel Institute at UCLA, a research and educational institute in Neuroscience, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Los Angeles County Art Museum, Los Angeles Breast Cancer Alliance and other secular and Jewish charities Dorothy was a consistent attendee at numerous educational seminars, speeches and Community events. Her life of service to others with vitality and exuberance and overall philanthropy was an inspiration. Dorothy's absence will leave a void in the lives of her children and friends. She is survived by her three children, along with daughter-in-law Harriet Kaplan, son-in-law, Dr. Walter O'Brien, and grandchildren Nathan Kaplan, Ian Kaplan, Hannah Kaplan, Olivia Kaplan, Corinne O'Brien, Courtney O'Brien and Connor O'Brien.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, October 23 at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90045. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Donations be made to Cardiovascular Thoracic Institute, Keck Medical School USC, Ph: 323-442-3299.