Saul Lewis Kaplan - Ashland business owner - 1911-2006
Saul Kaplan, longtime downtown business owner and civic leader for numerous community organizations, passed away on Dec. 28 in Ashland, Ky.
Mr. Kaplan, 95, was born Oct. 6, 1911, in Charleston, W.Va., a son of the late Benjamin and Sarah Rebecca Kaplan.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Harriet Stern Kaplan, and daughter, Sharon Kaplan Simons.
Mr. Kaplan spent more than 70 years in retailing in the Ashland area and was the founder and owner of Star’s Fashion World for more than 60 years. He was chairman of the board of Stars Stores Inc.
After closing his business in 1994, Mr. Kaplan established the Saul and Harriet Kaplan Charitable Foundation. Through this foundation, Mr. Kaplan became a major benefactor to many local charities and educational institutions.
Mr. Kaplan took a leadership role in numerous organizations, including United Jewish Appeal, the University of Kentucky Center on Aging, where he was a distinguished Fellow, the Bank of Ashland, King’s Daughters Medical Center and the Boy Scouts of America.
Mr. Kaplan served on various community and public-service boards, including vice chairman of the Board of Managers of King’s Daughters Medical Center and Ashland chairman for United Jewish Appeal. He was also a charter member of the board of directors of the Bank of Ashland.
He served on the Tri-State Council of Boy Scouts of America and received the distinguished Silver Beaver Award for his contributions to Scouting in the Tri-State.
As a child, his family relocated often in search of economic opportunity. From Charleston, the Kaplans moved to Ironton, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, Huntington, W.Va., Ashland and finally to Roanoke, Va. While living in Roanoke, Mr. Kaplan quit school at 15 to support his family. Following the death of his mother in 1927, his family returned to Ashland.
In 1931, with a $2,500 loan from a relative, Mr. Kaplan founded Star’s Men & Boys Shop with his father and a brother. It was at this point that he embarked on his career in apparel retailing. During the next 62 years, the business continued to expand and eventually became the premier retail apparel business in the Ashland area. Mr. Kaplan’s formula for success was offering quality clothing at competitive prices, a large selection and outstanding service.
In 1934, he met his future wife, Harriet Stern, at the World’s Fair in Chicago. Saul and Harriet Kaplan settled in Ashland and devoted themselves to family, friends, their business and the community during the next 70 years.
“Saul Kaplan was a wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather and he truly cared about everyone that he knew. His entrepreneurial spirit and optimism was contagious and he was a wonderful mentor and role model for our family,” said his grandson, Spencer Simons.
His granddaughters, Gwen McCallion and Vicki Heyman added: “He was an eternal optimist and perfectionist both professionally and personally. He demonstrated an incredible passion for life and lived each day to its fullest.”
Mr. Kaplan was selected the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Senior Star for 2005. This award recognizes Kentuckians who represent aging with grace, continue to live active lives and are examples to others of successful aging.
Survivors include his grandchildren, Spencer and Debra Simons of Sharon, Mass., and Vicki and Bruce Heyman and Gwen and Brian McCallion, both of Chicago; seven great-grandchildren, David, Liza and Caroline Heyman, Shelly and Kaitlyn McCallion and Michael and Audrey Simons; a sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Donald Korros of Ashland; a brother and sister-in-law, Melvin and Marilyn Stern of La Jolla, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Kitty Kaplan of Charleston; and 10 nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at Steen Funeral Home-Marshall Steen Chapel on 13th Street in Ashland with Rabbi Helen Bar-Yaacov officiating. Burial will be in Ashland Cemetery.
The family will accept visitors at the funeral home between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Saul and Harriet Kaplan Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, 1422 Winchester Ave., Ashland, KY 41101.
