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Los Altos High School University of Wisconsin

Lisabeth Kaplan Obituary

Lisabeth Kaplan Sept. 3, 1963 - Oct. 27, 2008 Lisabeth passed away peacefully on Monday, October 27th, in her home in Monterey, CA, after a courageous year-long battle with stomach cancer. Lisabeth was born on September 3, 1963, at Stanford Hospital on the Stanford University campus. She grew up in Los Altos Hills, California, where she attended local schools and graduated from Los Altos High School in 1980. Early in her life she demonstrated extraordinary intelligence and musical talent, over time becoming an accomplished pianist, guitarist and composer. She brought her myriad of talent and energy to Grinnell College in Iowa, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1984. Lisabeth continually challenged herself by tackling professions and hobbies that tested her limits-not only bringing her adventure and satisfaction but providing joy and comfort to others. Following her graduation from Grinnell, she was a medical intern at the University of Wisconsin in Madison before returning to California to earn a music degree at the California Institute of the Arts. She settled in the Monterey/Carmel area in the late 1980s, becoming one of the first women in the region to earn her full paramedic credentials, and thereafter compassionately served the Monterey Peninsula communities as a paramedic for almost two decades until her recent illness. While she tackled her profession with unwavering dedication, she contributed her broad talents to numerous spiritual and humanitarian causes. Locally, she served as a cantorial soloist and B'nei Mitzvah tutor, and composed and arranged a litany of music for synagogues and other Jewish community organizations in the Santa Cruz and Monterey areas. An intrepid and curious traveler with a gift for foreign languages, she ventured into pre-apartheid South Africa townships, made several trips to the Middle East with interfaith peace organizations, helped spearhead the effort to restore a Jewish Cemetery in Lithuania, and proudly aided victims of Hurricane Mitch in Nicaragua in 1998-the latter as a commandment of her own Bat Mitzvah which she undertook that year. Lisabeth is survived by her parents, Daniel and Rosemary Kaplan of Los Altos Hills, brother David Kaplan and his wife Lisa of Oakland, brother Dan Kaplan of Sunnyvale, and sister Deborah Kaplan and her husband John Bartkowiak of Oakland. She is also survived by three nephews and a niece as well as numerous devoted friends and her beloved cat Safa. A private celebration of Lisabeth's life is planned. For those wishing to make a donation, Lisabeth would want people to support the charity closest to their heart, or the Monterey County SPCA-Humane Society, 1002 Salinas Hwy, Monterey, CA 93940, (831) 422-4721.

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

Published by San Jose Mercury News on Nov. 2, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Lisabeth Kaplan

14 Entries

Thais Armstrong

March 30, 2009

I am so saddened to hear of Lisa Beth's passing. I knew Lisa Beth from Grinnell. My brother and I drove to Palo Alto and visited her on college break one year. Her laugh was infectious and smile radiant. I am happy to hear of how many lives she has touched. My memories of her continue to sparkle.

Christina Ridenhour

March 27, 2009

I, too, was a student at Grinnell with Lisabeth and am so saddened by the news of her passing. I was a freshman when Lisabeth was a senior at Grinnell - she was the "S.A." or Student Advisor for our dorm floor - and we became good friends. She had an electronic keyboard and made beautifully improvised music. She refused to wear shoes most of the time! We laughed a lot and we shared our troubles and fears. I visited her in Madison, she visited me at my parent's house in Kansas City, but we lost touch over the years. Lately, I had been searching for her through Grinnell connections, and on the internet, to no avail. How sad I am to learn that she and I had both settled not far from each other in Northern California!

I am also grateful to learn a little bit about the life she lived and some of the ways she touched people. I remember her as an intensely creative, generous, sensitive, and caring person. My heart goes out to her family and all those who loved her and are grieving. Lisabeth, I wish you peace.

Michael Lang

March 22, 2009

I was a friend of Lisabeth's. I went to college with her at Grinnell, where we sang and played music together in the Celestial Sacred Harp Singers. There were a lot of fun times. Later, I visited her in both Madison, Wisconsin, and at CalArts. I have been out of touch with her for these many years, and I am saddened that we are left behind her as she moves on. It has been a gift to learn of the amazing things she has done, and of the way she has had a positive effect on so many. Godspeed, Lisabeth ... With Love.

Lisa Weindorf

November 20, 2008

I am so deeply saddened to hear of Lisabeths passing. I will remember forever our times together growing up, our dance performances, our love of chocolate and her incredible ability to say "her truth" even when it was hard to hear. Lisabeth will be missed by so many. My thoughts are with the Kaplan family during this grievous time.

Irene Reti

November 13, 2008

In this time of grief for all of us, I think of Lisabeth curling up with our big red kitty, Zusa, on our couch. She was one of the few people he never ran away from. I think of her savoring a meal of soup and conversation with me and my partner Lori. I think of her and Lori spreading Hebrew texts across the kitchen table as they engaged in an intense exploration of Torah. I think of the homemade bread Lisabeth used to make for us when she came to house sit, or of the beautifully decorated flower pot she gave us when we moved in together. I think of the handwritten letter that she mailed me when I asked her for a recipe for chocolate cake. In a rushing era of email and cell phones, Lisabeth took time to slow down, to choose every word. She taught me to take time to say what I want to say. When she read a draft of my novel this year and said, "I dig it," her smile was all I needed to know that it worked for her. When I had the nerve to sing her Mi sheberach at a retreat in Colorado (with her permission) she bestowed that radiance on me once again, even though I botched a whole stanza.

Lisabeth was not a big fan of the Internet. But the Web does contain a record of some of her most courageous work, work that I would call spiritual activism. It records her work restoring a Jewish cemetery in the Ukraine, being part of the Fellowship of Reconciliation's International Peace-Builders Delegation, and speaking out against Islamaphobia post 9-11.

I feel blessed to have been a part of this extraordinary woman's life.

Irene Reti

Mark Angel

November 13, 2008

I enjoyed working with Lisabeth in Big Sur. I will miss her.

Abe Hazbun

November 12, 2008

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

Michael Poirier

November 10, 2008

My deepest condolences go out to LisaBeth's family.

I had the honor of working with 'LB' many years ago. I knew her as an outstanding, compassionate and motivated paramedic. She set an example that raised the bar for the rest of us.

A kind soul with lots of curiosity for the world, she was taken well before her time. Rest in peace LB, you will be missed.

Marsha Novack

November 10, 2008

LisaBeth was a remarkable woman. She taught my youngest son cantillation for his Bar Mitzvah. She did a marvelous job and he thoroughly impressed his Orthodox grandfather with his chanting. I will never forget that moment. May her memory be for a blessing.

Lisabeth with family and friends

Kathryn Pirkig

November 9, 2008

LB will be, greatly, missed by those who worked with her, and knew her dedication. She was a very private person, with a passion for living, and giving.

Chris Otherson

November 2, 2008

Lisa Beth will be sorely missed in the EMS community. She has saved so many lives, and has been an inspiration to so many.

Linda Bearden

November 2, 2008

Lisabeth,
You stole my heart, my newly found friend. Your smile will forever be my fondest memory of you and your kindess my greatest aspiration. My deepest sympathy to your family and friends during this most difficult time.

Karen Fenton

November 2, 2008

LB's amazing attention to detail while painting a mug, planning a "Vacation" to help others in a war zone, or baking scruptious chocolate goodies will never be forgotton. Her voice was amazing and her drive in her quiet way, to help others all over the world was inspirational. She was brave and all she touched will be better having had Lisabeth in their lives. She will live in my heart forever.

Joe Law

November 2, 2008

I've had the pleasure of working a few critical calls with her while I was employed at Ft. Ord. In the time I knew her she was a dedicated caring professional, and I often wondered how she managed time for all of her other interests. She was a great person, and all who knew her wll miss her................

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