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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Mar '94
Robert Edward Kaplan No. 16023 Class of 1946
Died 18 February 1992 in New York, New York, aged 66 years. Interment:
West Point Cemetery, West Point, New York.
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The son of Charles and Pauline Kaplan, Robert Edward
(Bob) Kaplan was born on 24 April 1925 in New York City. His
father was vice-president of Shirtcraft Company, one of the largest
US shirt manufacturers. Bob's high school years were spent at
the Loomis School in Windsor, Connecticut, where he nurtured
his interests in the classics. Bob had been accepted at Yale,
but, with World War II at its height, he decided that he wanted
to enlist in the Army. His father's desire that Bob go to West
Point was a key factor in changing his life's direction, as was
a meeting in early 1943 with Senator Harry Truman in a Baltimore
hotel lobby. The Missouri senator felt Bob should attend West
Point, and Bob agreed. Bob joined the Class of l946 on 1 July1943.
Bob's personality and ability to rise above the
petty things in life made cadet life bearable if not enjoyable.
He easily swept through the military part of being a cadet. The
academic curriculum was another story. The heavy math and science
orientation was hardly in consonance with his humanities background.
His determination to succeed carried him through all the academic
hurdles. He was a member of the Camera Club and honed the skills
that were to be a lifetime avocation and the source of much pleasure.
He pinned on the bars of a second lieutenant in the Infantry
at graduation.
A close friend from F-2 Company, Charles F. McCarty,
recalled some of his fond remembrances of Bob Kaplan: "When
Bob Kaplan smiled, it warmed me all over, regardless of the time,
place or circumstance. I met Bob for the first time after a particularly
harassing Beast Barracks formation in July 1943. After leading
me to the relative security of his room, Bob smiled and the memory
of the ordeal vanished. From then on, this balanced, cheerful
approach to the ups and downs of life was a hallmark of our relationship
as cadets, as student officers and as platoon and company commanders
serving from 1947-49 at the 'Last Outpost,' the 6th Infantry
Division in Korea.
"Bob's upbeat manner carried us through almost
a year at the Infantry School. In the spring of 1947, we drew
our first troop assignments in order of our West Point class
standing. Our low class standing sent us to South Korea, at the
end of the Army's supply line to the Far East. In January 1949,
the occupation of Korea ended and U.S. troops were withdrawn.
I made up my mind to continue my career in the Army, but Bob
decided to pursue a successful career in the textile industry.
Although the process of maturing and raising our families in
vastly different environments changed our lives considerably
from our introduction in 1943, Bob Kaplan's influence was an
important factor in my subsequent development for the better."
Just before Bob left active duty, he married Roberta
Wennik, a beautiful and talented student of voice and piano,
in New York City on 22 May 1949. Bob entered civilian life as
an executive in his father's company. He later became vice president,
Women's Apparel, Oxford Industries. J. Hicks Lanier, currently
chairman and president, recalled: "I had the pleasure of
knowing Bob Kaplan for 27 years. He certainly enriched my life
during that period, and I have many fond memories of him. I first
met Bob in 1965: he was my boss and my mentor. My recollections
of Bob as a businessman are of a person with boundless energy
who was well organized and planful. He was an extremely creative
person, a strong leader and his enthusiasm was contagious. But
most of all, I remember Bob as a great salesman. He could sell
his ideas or his products in any setting because he was charming,
witty, intelligent, persistent and aggressive. His integrity
was beyond reproach, and he developed a rock-solid reputation
based on the highest values."
Knowlton J. O'Reilly of Oxford Industries remembered:
"Bob was instrumental in training me when I joined Oxford
in 1965. I developed a deep affection and respect for Bob. His
integrity, organizational skills, ability to make clear, concise
and convincing presentations, his pride in what he did, and his
terrific sense of humor impressed me very much. Bob also had
a deep interest and perspective on the world outside the apparel
industry. He followed world and national events with a keen critical
eye and was a stimulating conversationalist on many subjects.
Bob left Oxford in 1971 to form his own business, Complex Industries,
Inc., also a producer of women's apparel. Our friendship endured
despite the fact that we were now competitors.
"Bob was forceful and had the courage of his
convictions without being opinionated. I recall in 1968 our national
road sales force disagreed with the direction Bob was taking.
Bob stood his ground and, while giving the men their day in court,
did not yield for he believed his direction was correct. At the
next sales meeting, Bob's position had proved correct and the
men banded together to present Bob a plaque featuring the West
Point crest. They were communicating their respect for Bob in
a way they knew would mean a great deal to him personally. During
1991, Bob and I had many conversations about combining our companies.
All the while he kept his battle with cancer a secret. We did,
in fact, agree to combine the businesses, and we both looked
forward to working together again. Regrettably, this was not
to be as he died a month later. Bob was deeply revered by his
employees at Complex Industries."
Julia Kramer was Bob's comptroller and later became
treasurer of the company. She recalled: "Bob was an unusual
employer. Everyone was treated as part of his family. During
illnesses in one's family or pleasures, his interest was loving
and warm. He was compassionate, caring in every way. In his industry,
he was referred to as the 'General' because he never stopped
telling everyone about his days at West Point. He loved West
Point as much as he loved his family and business. In 1981, eight
women in the garment industry started a charity called Committee
Concerned for Children. Bob helped us get it started. Today the
charity is a strong organization and raises $500,000 a year."
Bob Kaplan died of leukemia 18 February 1992 in
New York City. He is survived by his wife Roberta Wennik-Kaplan--a
Ph.D. with a private practice in psychoanalytic psychotherapy;
three sons, James, Peter and Robert, all professionals working
in print and television; and five grandchildren.
Bob lived his life to the fullest. He loved his
work, his family and his life with them. He loved to putter in
his garden, take candid portraits of his family, attend the theater
and the symphony, read good books and take his family to West
Point football games. Bob was a proud son of West Point. He carried
the motto, Duty, Honor, Country, into every aspect of his life.
Bob's friend and classmate, Charles F. McCarty
said, "Bob Kaplan's influence can be summed up by paraphrasing
an insightful comment from Norman McLean: "Eventually, all
things merge into one, and some constant values run through it."
The constants I remember most vividly about Bob Kaplan are his
sensitivity, his appreciation of the chivalrous, romantic side
of military life, his loyalty to his friends, his respect for
the West Point Ideal and that his special smile had lost none
of its very special warming power."
The Class of 1946 is proud to join his family and
friends in proclaiming, "Well Done, Bob; Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project, his wife Roberta & sons
James, Peter and Robert
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