Rosalyn Kaplan

1924 - 2016

Rosalyn (Roz) Kaplan, of North Eastham, died April 24, at age 91, with both her daughters at her side. Born in Somerville, MA, on August 20, 1924 to Abraham Cohen and May Miodovnik Cohen, Roz and her older sister Doris were raised in Revere, Lowell, and Brookline, with summers in Maine and West Hyannisport. Roz graduated from Brookline High School in 1943, excelling in most sub-jects, but resenting those, such as typing, which were pushed upon women. Her yearbook noted her interest in world news and social history as well as sense of style: shoes, shoes, shoes, what would Rozs world be without them, the yearbook editor wondered. Roz studied Liberal Science at the University of New Hampshire then transferred to the University of Chicago, where she studied Sociology and Psychology, graduating in 1948. She did graduate work at the University of Chicago and began working as a researcher there. In 1972 she completed a Masters Degree in Library Science from Rosary College and worked as a librarian until retirement. Her thesis on sexism in childrens books was one of the first studies of its kind. Roz and Bernie met at the University of Chicago, married on June 17, 1947, and honeymooned in Provincetown. They moved briefly to Worcester in the 1950s, where they started the Beaver Machine Company, a worker-owned manufacturing plant, along with Rozs sister Doris and her husband Alvin Shairman. A talented artist, Roz especially enjoyed copper enameling. She set up a small art studio at home for her daughters, and made sure they always had books, art and dance classes, subway tokens and museum cards, and of course, good shoes. In 1988, Roz and Bernie retired in Eastham. Roz became enthusiastically involved in many Outer Cape activities, volunteering at the Eastham Library, the Eastham Arboretum, and the Eastham COA thrift shop. She was active in the Democratic Party, the Outer Capes long-running classical study society the Greeks, Am Ha Yam, and the National Seashore. Roz enjoyed bicycling, walking, and exploring the Cape. She loved to head out in her car and see where she ended up. Shmieing around, she called it, from the Yiddish word for wandering. Roz was devoted to both yoga and her womens book club. A monthly charades group organized by her best friend and neighbor brought laughter to her last years. Roz and Bernie were strong contributors to the Lower Cape Development Corporation, the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod, and Planned Parenthood. They loved their home in Eastham and Rozs determination to age in place was significantly helped by loving attention from a circle of caregivers which included, most recently, Tracy Peters, Robyn Michaels, and Beth Silver. Predeceased in March 2015 by her beloved husband of 67 years, Bernard (Bernie) Kaplan, Roz was a sweet and willful woman who will be sorely missed by her friends and family. She is survived by her two loving daughters, Carla Kaplan and Clair Kaplan, their respective partners Steve Larsen and Fran Weiner, her grandson David Kaplan Taylor, and her brother-in-law Lawrence Kaplan. A memorial will take place at her home on Sunday, May 15th and friends of Rozs are encouraged to contact her daughters for details. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Eastham Library for books to be purchased in Rozs name.