Stuart Ronald Kaplan
Stuart Ronald Kaplan passed away on Tuesday, February 9 at the age of 88. Born on April 1, 1932 in the Bronx, he grew up a skinny kid who loved stickball with his friends and an egg cream from the corner store.
He was one of five students in the inaugural class of Cardigan Mountain School in New Hampshire, and attributed his adventuresome spirit to the lessons he learned there.
Stuart graduated from La Sorbonne in Paris and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
He worked on Wall Street for a coal mining company and wrote the exhaustively-researched, award-winning book Mining, Minerals and Geosciences.
In 1968, Stuart discovered a Swiss 1JJ Tarot deck at the Nuremberg Toy Fair. Fascinated by this beautiful and mysterious treasure, he brought it back to New York, quit Wall Street, and with the help of his wife Marilyn, an American girl from North Dakota he met in Orléans, France, founded U.S. Games Systems, Inc. The deck sold well at Brentano's but needed more explanation, so Stuart wrote Tarot Cards for Fun and Fortune Telling. In his 53 years as Chairman of USGS, he wrote The Encyclopedia of Tarot Volumes I-IV, Tarot Classic, Pamela Colman Smith: The Untold Story and just completed The Authors Card Game Compendium. He had so much more he wanted to do.
With a birthday on April Fools' Day, Stuart embodied the spirit of the first card of the Major Arcana, The Fool, by taking leaps of faith with an open heart on uncharted paths.
Stuart was committed to honoring Pamela Colman Smith, the artist of the Rider-Waite Tarot. He felt Pixie never got her proper due for bringing the world's most popular tarot deck to life.
The products Stuart published and the company he created will continue on, but it is his legacy of kindness, generosity, humor, curiosity, and passion that Is most important. Stuart loved his family, employees, neighbors, dog, writing, collecting, tennis, chocolate, and bread and ketchup with dinner.
His family wishes to especially thank all of the wonderful people in the Tarot and New Age community around the world who have shown him such love and respect, and who continue his energy through their passion.
Stuart R. Kaplan was laid to rest on Sunday, February 14, 2021, but his spirit and legacy will continue, as expansive and shimmering as the warm desert night, filled with infinite possibilities.
If you wish to remember Stuart, follow your passion and never quit, and please do something kind for someone else.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Greenwich Time & Stamford Advocate on Feb. 15, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Stuart Kaplan

Sponsored by Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home - Stamford.

9 Entries

Josh Yates

February 9, 2024

Hello friend. My passion for Tarot is great and you seem to have the same fiery grace that we chose to experience in our lifetimes. I appreciate the chain of love with your creations that still exist today. My friend, I bless thee.

John A. Macali

January 30, 2024

I just learned of Mr. Stuart Kaplan's passing this evening. I wish to send my most Sincere Condolances to his wife and family. I have tarot books and tarot card decks that Mr. Kaplan had for purchase. I have learned so much from these items. Mr. Kaplan was a genius in reference to all the tarot information that he researched and published. I havebeen a student of tarot for over 40 years and am still learning. I am currently 71 years old. Thank You from the bottom of my heart.

Alison Yada

March 29, 2022

I worked in the toy and game industry with Stuart for many years and he was one of the kindest and curious individuals I've ever met and remarkably intelligent, yet humble. He almost purchased the company I worked for and even though it didn't work out, we remained friends over the years. I had not seen Stuart in several years, was thinking of reaching out to him, to find out he had passed. I'm saddened to hear of his passing but so grateful I met him in my life.

Bobby Simmons

March 14, 2022

I did not personally know Mr Kaplan, but I admire and respect him. His tarot decks and books are more valuable to me than gold. I hope he'd approve of my use of them. Thank you, Mr Kaplan. RIP

Josh Yates

May 4, 2021

Stuart, Hello Sir. Your Egipcios Kier Tarot Deck from 1984 are so beautiful, fun, helpful, and spiritual. Thank you for all the unselfishness work you accomplished while on Earth in form. Your contribution to humanity is felt by many souls, I'll call on your energy when working with your Tarot and reading your books. Much gratitude!

Robert Kissel

February 26, 2021

All of us in the International Playing-Card Society are very, very grieved to learn of Stuart Kaplan's passing. He was a great friend to and member of the International Playing-Card Society, generously giving of his time and sharing access to his vast collection to our American congresses in 1986 and 2000, and always eager to promote and participate in the advancement of interest in the history and art of playing-cards.

One of the great, great men in this obscure field of social history!

Robert S. Kissel, Vice-President, The International Playing Card Society

Simone Taylor

February 21, 2021

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief. Please except my condolences for your loss.

Teresa White & Jim Jaufman

Planted Trees

Sue Oviatt

February 15, 2021

I worked at US Games in customer service for six years from 1993 until 1999. I always admired Stuart’s knowledge of tarot and his intelligence. He was a very nice man and a wonderful leader of all of his staff. So sorry to hear he has passed. It was a joy to work at his company and be a part of his staff. It was probably my favorite job and I loved being able to wear jeans to work. No dress code. He was a gentleman and a very admirable man. God rest his good soul.

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