Edward L. Kaplan

July 19th, 2025

Ed was a person with a brilliant mind and a loving heart. His was a life well lived. He leaves behind a wonderful family, many, many friends, a successful business career that helped countless people and ideas and products that have made the world a better place.
After being a dear friend since 1983 and 17 years on Zebra’s board of directors, all I can say is Thank You, Ed, for being you. We will miss you and the world will miss you.

~Chris Knowles
~Long time friend and Zebra board member, Naples, Florida

July 17th, 2025

My deepest condolences
May Ed’s memory be forever a blessing . I’ll remember his tremendous support for ILL Tech that he had and the interaction with him at board Meetings.
God Bless him and the Family.

~John Calamos Sr
~Ill Tech Board Member, Naperville Illinois

July 17th, 2025

The Kaplans have been family friends all of my life. I grew up calling them Auntie Carol and Uncle Eddie. In the absence of my parents, Jerry and Sylvia Loebman, I would like to extend our families heartfelt condolences to the family. I have a lot of memories growing up of the Kaplan’s. The best memory of Uncle Eddie I can share is simply the warmth I always felt in his infectious smile. He was always so kind to me. He was a man who really made a difference in this world. I will never forget him.

~Mindi Silver
~Friend / Honorary Niece, Machesney Park, IL

July 17th, 2025

I worked for Ed at Zebra. He was one of the kindest people I have ever known. My favorite memory of Ed is
from his retirement party when he said, “one of the things I’m most proud of is looking at this crowd and knowing I helped a lot of them buy their first house.”

~Diane Williams
~Professional, Spring Grove, IL

July 17th, 2025

Ed was the guiding light, primary funder and driver, and constant source of guidance and support for the Kaplan Family Institute which served hundreds of entrepreneurial students and their mentors. It continues to be an example of his generosity, vision and leadership. He will be sorely missed and Chicago will be forever in his debt.

~HOWARD AND JUDY TULLMAN
~Founding Executive Director of the Kaplan Institute at IIT, Chicago

July 17th, 2025

Not only was Ed a great friend but everyone in our forum learned a lot from him. One of my favorite memories was when our forum went on an Outward Bound rafting trip on the Snake and Colorado Rivers. It was our best forum trip and really created a bonding experience. for us all. Carole, Marty, Allen and the entire Kaplan Family, my sincere condolences! Ed will always have a place in my mind as long as I have it! With all my Love, Bob Hanson

~Bob Hanson
~Friend and Follow YPO Forum member since 1983, Lake Barrington, IL 60010

July 17th, 2025

Ed truly loved his family. He was a smart and caring person who was always there for you. He will be deeply missed.

~Steven Boxer
~Cousin, Miami Beach, Florida

July 17th, 2025

I met Ed through his dear wife, Carol. I always looked forward to greeting him weekly at the Great Ideas Lectures at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida Atlantic University. Like others have acknowledged, Ed was a life long learner. He will be missed by many.

Joan London
Boca Raton, Florida

~Joan Kaplan London
~friend, Virginia Beach, Va. and Boca Raton, Fl.

July 17th, 2025

One of the greatest highlights of my career has been working with Ed as his PT/trainer. Early on I learned that he had a love for sports, especially for golfing and playing basketball. During one of our sessions I brought out a basketball and couldn’t help but smile as I watched his face light up with joy. From that visit on, we incorporated a basketball into our workouts in one way or another and boy did he progress! From chest passes to being able to smoothly complete a pass around his back or through his legs. Before he left for Florida, I gave him his own ball and he brought that same ball to every workout from then on out. Another one of my favorite memories during our time together was when I would go get Ed from the waiting area to begin our workout, only to find him sitting in the chair holding a magazine or newspaper and motioning for me to come sit down. It never failed that he had come across some new research study or a fitness related story that he wanted to share with me, so before we started our workout, we would sit together as he read me the story.

To Carol, his family, and his friends, you are all in my thoughts and prayers. I am forever grateful for the time I got with Ed and it was an absolute pleasure to get to know him over the past few years. He is greatly missed.

~Amanda McCartan
~Physical Therapist/Trainer, Highland Park, IL

July 17th, 2025

I met Ed over 25 years ago from my work at The Polsky Center at ChicagoBooth. Ed was a sponsor of our new venture accelerator and business plan competition. But before he would put his name on this program he monitored us for several years to insure that the program would be successful and institutionalized. As of today, the Edward L Kaplan New Venture Challenge has launched hundreds of businesses across many different industries. This is an amazing legacy which has impacted countless lives. Over the years Ed and Carol and my husband Paul and I became friends and shared many dinners and Ravinia evenings together. We were so inspired by your vision of “what could be” and the legacy that you have built through your career and philanthropy. We will miss you.

~Ellen Rudnick
~friend and business associate, HIGHLAND PARK

July 16th, 2025

My beloved brother-in-law, Ed and my sister Carol have always been there for me. All the memories of family events and trips with your boys and my children and my late beloved Barry will be cherished.
Much love
Janey

~Janice GORDON
~sister-in-law, Wilmette, IL

July 16th, 2025

I went to college with Ed, then worked with him through the Zebra days.
He was a relentless adversary in hundreds of racquetball and golf games. As in other facets of his life, he was a brilliant strategist and competitor with a strong will to win.
I was privileged to know Ed, work with him and learn from him.
He will be missed.
Stew

~Stew Shiman
~Friend and colleague, Northbrook, Il

July 16th, 2025

Ed Kaplan was a wonderful friend, an extraordinary man, and a delightful person who was kind, warm, and loved glass art!
He was so interesting and a collector of fine glass art which we love too. Morrie and I spent wonderful vacations with Ed & Carol in Manzanillo, Mexico with the Alper’s!
Ed will be missed and he is in our hearts and prayers.
Love,
Cindi & Morrie Elstien, Chicago, IL

~Cindi & Morrie Elstien
~Friends, Chicago, IL

July 16th, 2025

Mr Kaplan and I worked on a number of projects together over the last 15 years, and I will never forget our time together. I always felt I was in the presence of greatness when I was around him. As an entrepreneur and business owner, I always find myself admiring his work ethic, attention to detail, and the company he built with hard work and dedication. But even with the accolades and accomplishments Mr Kaplan achieved in his life, he was always willing to listen to other recommendations and take feedback. Even with his mountains of notebooks with notes from the last 50 years, he was always willing to take others opinions and ideas, and I always appreciated that about him. I know the world is a better place because of Mr Kaplan and his legacy will live on through his family.

~Brent Metz
~Family Friend, Lake Forest IL

July 16th, 2025

My deepest condolences
May Ed’s memory be forever a blessing . I’ll remember the wonderful dinners we had together at Amy & Mary’s celebrating the holidays together.

~Susie Cohen
~Family friend, Buffalo grove il

July 16th, 2025

I didn’t know Ed for a very long time, but it was obvious what a kind and generous man he was. I had the privilege to spend some quality time with Carol, Ed , and the wonderful family they created together.. My heartfelt condolences to Carol, Marty, Alan, and their family for their loss.

~Marcia Kleinberg
~Friend, Boca Raton, Florida