PRINCETON… Lionel (Lonny) A. Kaplan ,69, passed away Saturday June 3, 2017.
Born in Trenton, Mr. Kaplan was a Princeton area resident the past fifty years. He was a graduate of Harvard University and Rutgers School of Law.
Mr. Kaplan was the managing partner of Joseph D. Kaplan and Son in Trenton,NJ.
He was a spirited political activist and a consummate fundraiser for pro-Israel causes. His active involvement in the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) began in 1988 as Princeton area co-chair with his wife Gail and has grown exponentially since. He served as an Executive Committee member and a member of the New York Regional Council and was appointed an officer of AIPAC and National Development Chairman in 1994. He went on to become AIPAC President in 1998 and Chairman of the Board in 2000. During his years of involvement in AIPAC, he has contributed immeasurably to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship as evidenced by the influence he has with lawmakers nationwide.
In addition to his intense commitment to AIPAC and its mission, he has been engaged in a variety of Jewish community enterprises including United Jewish Appeal National Young Leadership Cabinet and the National Training Center. He also served as President and Campaign Chairman of Princeton/Mercer/Bucks United Jewish Appeal/Federation. He is a board member of the Association of Jewish Federations of New Jersey.
He is survived by his wife Gail Friedman Kaplan, a daughter and son-in-law Shana and Joshua Epstein, two brothers Robert (Signe) Kaplan and Richard (Karen) Kaplan, three granddaughters Hannah, Ellie and Eva.
Funeral services are Tuesday 9:30AM (June 6) at The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Entombment will be private at Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park, Clarksburg, MD. The period of mourning will be observed at The Jewish Center Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm and Saturday at 9pm.