Shirley Kaplan

Kaplan, Shirley Lee (Miller)
1929–2026

Shirley Lee Kaplan, age 96, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026. An extraordinary woman, Shirley made the most of every moment of her remarkable life. She devoted herself to helping others through extensive, lifelong volunteer service, including weekly work at Longview Hospital, staffing crisis hotlines, and serving as a Den Mother. She also contributed countless hours to Temple Sisterhoods in both Cincinnati and Boca Raton, Florida, where she and her husband, Ed, retired in 1989.

Shirley married Edward Kaplan in 1951. After raising their two sons, she attended the University of Pittsburgh, earning a degree in Social Work. She went on to have a successful career dedicated to service. In an unpredictable and sometimes cruel world, Mr. Rogers famously advised, “Look for the helpers.” Shirley was a born helper.

Shirley and Edward shared a love of travel, visiting more than 30 countries together and carefully documenting their journeys. She also enjoyed entertaining, playing bridge, and spending time with her grandchildren, who were a great source of joy in her life.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years, Edward E. Kaplan; her parents, Jasper and Hazel Miller; and her siblings, Mary Metz, Doug Miller, and Tom Miller. Shirley is survived by her sons, David (Lorraine) Kaplan and Philip (Janet) Kaplan; her grandchildren, Annalee (Cory) Stover, Rachel Kaplan, Michael Kaplan, Kyle Kaplan, Jacob Kaplan, and Abigail Kaplan; and her four great-grandchildren, Kensley, Bennett, Sylvia, and Graham Stover.

A memorial gathering will be held on January 17 at 1:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room at Brookdale Trillium Crossing, 3500 Trillium Crossing, Columbus, Ohio 43235. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shirley’s memory to the Parkinson’s Foundation, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, or the National Federation of the Blind.