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Artist Realized His Dream

States.
But Mr. Kaplansky never gave up on
his dream of being an artist. When he
was working up to 60 hours a week, he
s a young man, Israel "Kappy"
Kaplansky studied art in Canada didn't have time. That changed in the
late 1970s when he went into semi-
— seeing his sculpture exhibited
retirement.
in prestigious galleries there.
His return to the art world paid off in
But the need to earn a living forced
1983 when he was invited to exhibit at
the aspiring sculptor to delay his artistic
endeavors for four decades, until after he the Sheldon Ross Gallery in
Birmingham. That led to invitations to
retired. With newfound time in his 70s,
speak about his work.
his new creations were then featured in
Mr. Kaplansky was also a lover of
American galleries.
books -- particularly books with a
For 25 retirement years, Mr.
Jewish connection. His volumes lined a
Kaplansky worked out of his basement
wall in his home. "The books tended to
studio with most of his works in plaster
be connected with Jewish philosophy,"
and bronze. "The theme of his sculp-
said his son.
tures was labor-orientated,"
"'You are never alone if
said son John.
you have a book,' my
Mr. Kaplansky, 95, of West
father used to say."
Bloomfield, died July 13,
For 50 years, Mr.
2004, of congestive heart fail-
Kaplansky was active in
ure.
the Sholem Aleichem Insti-
He immigrated to. Toronto
tute and sang in its choir
from his native Poland in 1925
until several years ago.
and began studying art soon
"He was outgoing, laid
after his arrival, taking night
back, hard to rattle and
sculpture classes at the Ontario
filled with Yiddishkeit,"
College of Art and studying
said his son.
under noted Canadian artist
Mr. Kaplansky is sur-
James MacDonald. In a Jewish Israel Kaplansky
vived by his wife, Molly
News profile several years ago,
Kaplansky- of West
Mr. Kaplansky said that during
Bloomfield; sons and daughters-in-law,
that period, he stayed in the classroom
J. Ronald and Gail Kaplansky of East
for several hours after the scheduled ses-
Lansing, John and Amy Kaplansky of
sion ended. The classroom "was my stu-
West Bloomfield; stepdaughter, Eileen
dio at the time and I took advantage of
Lev of Israel; stepson, Neal Hoptman of
it," he said.
Australia; grandchildren, Jean Kaplansky
Eventually, he became so excited
and Archie Anderson, Beth and John
about the sculpture classes that he often
Omtvedt, Adam Kaplansky, Haley
dropped in during the daytime sessions.
Kaplansky, Joshua Kaplansky, Haisha
"It was a little bit of chutzpah on my
Luman, Gideon, Naomi, Aviyah, Shani
part, I suppose," he said.
and
Daniel Levinson; great-grandchild,
After two years in the school, his
Ambar Luman; sisters and brother-in-
works were exhibited in the Ontario
law, Leah Zuker, Freda and Chaim
Artists' Society, the Canadian Sculpture
Weinberg, brother and sister-in-law,
Society, the Canadian National
Garry and Viola Kappy; sisters-in-law
Exhibition and the prestigious National
and brother-in-law, Sarah Kappy, Itche
Gallery in Ottawa.
and Jenny Goldberg.
Despite his success, he found he
He was the beloved husband of the
couldn't support himself through art.
late Nona Kaplansky; devoted brother of
After moving to Detroit to marry Nona
the late Frank Kappy, the late Esther
in 1936, he found work in a clothing
Anielewicz, the late Genia Silverberg
factory and later sold vacuum cleaners,
and the late Cesia Baumgarten.
furniture and real estate. His wife died
Interment was at Adat Shalom
in 1975, after a near 40-year marriage.
Memorial Park. Contributions may be
He later married his current wife, Molly.
made to the Sholem Aleichem Institute;
His parents and three sisters died in
28690 Southfield Road, Suite 293,
Europe during World War II; but, after
Lathrup Village, MI 48076. Arrange-
the war, he brought two brothers and
ments by Ira Kaufman Chapel. II
two remaining sisters to the United

LEONARD POGER
Copy Editor

A

MORTON ESKIN, 69, of West
Bloomfield, died July 17, 2004.
He is survived by his beloved wife,
Barbara Eskin;
son, Jonathan
Eskin of Avon,
Colo.; daugh-
ters and sons-
in-law, Marcie
and Ethan
Goldstein of
Southfield,
Debbie and
Darryl Kaplan
Eskin
of West
Bloomfield;
brother and
sister-in-law, Jerry and Judy Eskin of
LaSalle, Ontario, Canada; grandchil. ,
dren, Ben and Seth Goldstein. He
was the dear son of the late Harry
and Tillie Eskin; son-in-law of the
late Sylvia and Irving Pelavin.
Interment at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the
Rona and Herbert Freedland Fund
for the Performing Arts at Hillel
Day School, 32200 Middlebelt
Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334;
the National Kidney Foundation,
2350 S. Huron Parkway, Ann Arbor,
MI 48104; or to a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.

ALBERT FINK, 79, former
Detroiter of New York, died April
2004. He was a graduate of the
University of Michigan and served
in the U.S. Army Air Force.
He is survived by his wife, Lillian;
daughters, Barbara White, Francine
Gal; sisters, Lillian Bobkin of
Toronto, Gertrude Hertzberg of
Asherville, N.C.; grandchildren.
Interment in Long Island.

ADELINE S. GOLDMAN, 82, of
Lindside, WVa., died July 13, 2004.
She is survived by her daughters
and son-in-law, Barbara and Fred
Davidson of West Virginia, Marc
Shapoff of California, Alan Shapoff
of Kentucky; grandchildren, Jordan
Robinson and Cherish and Joshua
Alberts; great-grandchildren, Danny
and Joshua Robinson.
Interment at Machpelah
Cemetery. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.

SIDNEY HARRIS, 78, of West
Bloomfield, died July 18, 2004.
He is survived by his sons, Melvin
Harris and Jeffrey Harris, both of
West Bloomfield; daughter and son-
in-law, Hilda and Jeffrey Piell of
Northbrook, Ill.; grandchildren,
Sarah Piell, Zachary Piell, Rebecca
Harris, Annette and Mark
Rubinstein, Amy and Alan Sternfeld
and Mark and Alisa Berke; great-
grandchildren, Randi and Emily
Rubinstein, Stefanie and Ariella
Sternfeld and Ryan Berke. He was
the beloved husband of the late Sara
L. Harris; father of the late Rosalyn
Berke. ,
Graveside services and interment
at Adat Shalom Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to the
Lungevity Foundation, 4541 N.
Ravenswood Avenue, # 303,
Chicago, IL 60640. Arrangements
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

NICHOLAS KUPFERSTIEN
KARY, 79, of Grosse Isle, died July

15, 2004. A retired insurance agent,
he was a Holocaust survivor of
Auschwitz.
Mr. Kary is
s urvived by his
son and daugh-
ter-in-law,
Bobbi and
Catherine Kary
of Woodhaven;
daughter, Szeren
Kary of Ohio;
grandchildren,
Russell and
Jennifer Kary; sister, Kate
Kupferstien of Hamilton, Ontario;
companion, Eleanor Kary of Grosse
Isle.
Interment at Adat Shalom
Memorial Park Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to a
charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

MINDY KATZ, 36, of Southfield,
died July 13, 2004.
She is survived by her mother,
Lois Katz of Southfield; father,
Aaron Katz. She was the beloved
granddaughter of the late Art and
Ann Newman, the late Joe and Ruth
Katz; sister of the late Gerald.
Interment at Clover Hill Park

