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Sumner Kaplan Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Sumner Kaplan
March 16, 2025
We miss Sumner
Anthony J Shuman
January 28, 2022
I grew up on Russell St in Brookline. Sumner changed the course of my life the summer that I graduated college. I was sitting outside when Sumner came over and asked if I had considered joining his Reserve unit. This was the summer of 1965. I had not thought about Vietnam until my parents contacted someone that they new on the draft board and found out that I was about to be drafted. I joined his unit and it changed my life.
Forever grateful
Felina & Joe Robinson
March 16, 2019
We just wanted you to know that we are still holding Sumner in our thoughts and prayers. It is our hope that the love each of you have for him has continued to hold you together in supporting one another through his loss.
April 4, 2011
Dear Ruth and family.
Please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your father,husband, grandfather, and friend.
Fondly,
Sandy Orenstein
March 28, 2011
To Ruth and members of the Kaplan family, please accept my condolences. I only met Sumner a couple of times, but what a wonderful and gracious man! Dan Margolies
Ruth Segaloff
March 25, 2011
Ellie, thanks to your family stories, we had a warm and wonderful inside understanding of Sumner's heart and spirit through the decades and within the context of our Jewish culture and history. It felt as if you were "filling in the blanks" about my own grandparents because I didn't get to ask them directly about their earlier lives. Ellie, my heart goes out to all of you in this sad time. Love, Ruth, from the Tellng Your Stories Group.
Dick Rust
March 24, 2011
Sumner was a giant in my eyes.
I first met him when I was a teenager and my older sister was his secretary. I had a budding interest in politics, but had neither the lineage nor circumstances that offered an easy entre. When I expressed my vague ambitions, Sumner made me think my hopes weren't so far fetched.
He had that unique ability to give a fresh faced kid wise, kind and generous advice in a way that the kid felt he was being taken as a serious person. It was transformational.
Over the years as Sumner would came into and go out of my life through shared politics and mutual friends, I always felt a special kinship.
I know there are innumerable others who had similar connections with an extraordinary human being.
I never took the opportunity to thank him for helping me begin my journey into adulthood and a lifetime interest and involvement in politics. I regret that.
My condolences to his family are deep and heartfelt.
Meredith Feltus
March 24, 2011
Sumner's dedication and counsel will be deeply missed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Building on many years of involvement at UMass Amherst, he was an original member of the Commonwealth Honors College Advisory Board, helping to guide the college through its first decade. We will miss him. Our thoughts are with his family.
March 24, 2011
Deepest condolences from your cousins,
Anna and Steve Heffron
Sally Wechsler
Veda Roosa (Robinson)
March 24, 2011
On behalf of my father (Tom Robinson) and our family Sumner was a great man, he will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family.
Alicia Solomont
March 24, 2011
Sumner and Ellie were our most welcome guests at many special family events. Most memorable of all those big events was when Sumner did us the honor of joining us as husband and wife. Sumner, through you, we embarked on our married life together and for that we will always have you to thank! Ali & Eric Solomont
Norman Spack
March 23, 2011
4 generations of the Kaplan-Auerbach family have been connected to mine. Sumner represented the 2nd generation. He was my late father's student at Menorah Institute, his first bar mitzvah pupil and friend for life. Sumner was among the most remarkable, fair-minded, indomitable, and optimistic men I have ever met. Just as so many of us have benefited from his wise counsel, we now have to make future difficult decisions trying to imagine, "What would Sumner say?"
Zaycher tsaddik l'vracha--may the memory of this tsaddik be for a blessing
WFM III
March 23, 2011
Sumner led a wonderful life. He loved his family and friends and was much loved in return. He was the soul of Brookline, a man of faith and heart and was always true to his beliefs. He was, in so may ways, a secular rebbe. He honored his country and his state with his service and, in return was honored by each. More importantly, he touched the lives of too many to even know. He was truly the man of million mitzvahs. He advocated for the welfare of children and those who were wounded in our nation's service. In many ways our "summy" was a real life George Bailey, he made more people's lives better than he could even know. So, I celebrate his life and profound influence on my own, but, alas, not without a tear. What a mensch.
Lee Valentine
March 23, 2011
I knew Sumner for a short decade. He was like a grandfather to me. He admonished me when I needed it, and encouraged me in the same breath. I rarely cry, but I am in tears. I have lost a part of myself. He had always wanted me to go to law school. I am applying this year. He did not know. I have a newborn daughter, but he never got to meet her. I could have not loved him more had we been family members. He will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with Ruth, Eleanor, and the rest of his family. May Sumner rest in peace. I hope to see him again some day.
Margie Giordano
March 23, 2011
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Joyce Feldman
March 23, 2011
Our thoughts are with you on the loss of Sumner. He was a wonderful person and a long time friend of our father and mother, Irving & Etta Feldman. He will be remembered for his kindness to others.
Joyce (Feldman) Winer and Carol Feldman
Remembering a wonderful man
Felina and Joe Robinson
March 23, 2011
What an amazing man. In what little time I knew him personally, he touched my heart. I knew of him for years as a member of this town and he did so many wonderful, generous and amazing things. He will be missed by all for different reasons. May his family bring their hears and souls together to heal their pain and suffering. Remember all that has been good from the amazing life that has left us.
With love, honor and respect from Felina Robinson, the wife of Joe Robinson of Brookline, MA (Joe additionally sends his love and respect)
Steve and Mike Kane
March 23, 2011
Sumner Kaplan was, is and will continue to be an inspiration and role model for generations to follow. We are honored to have known him and tho have been touched by his humanity.
In the truest sense - he was a Mench.
Nancy Korman
March 23, 2011
Sumner Kaplan was my friend for more than 40 years and he was the official godfather to my son Benjamin Korman and the honorary godfather to William. For years Sumner and Ellie took the boys apple picking until he had grand-children of his own. His role in our lives was enormous. He performed the wedding of William and Sue Korman and Attended endless family celebrations always with a smile on his face and love in his heart.
Yehiam Horev
March 23, 2011
To all the Kaplans, with you at your grief.
March 23, 2011
Sumner was a fraternity brother of my father at UMass and a closer friend there never was. Sumner was as good a friend as there was and was there for me personally many times over the years. Rest in peace, my friend.
Eric Malins
Susie Davidson
March 22, 2011
May his grand influence be felt across successive generations. I attended the dedication of the Judge Sumner Z. Kaplan Park at Coolidge Playground (on Columbia Street in Brookline) several years ago. The park will provide an oasis where visitors can ponder, just as he did, on how to make the world a better place.
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