The Markow Family Tree

Obituary Leonard Kaplan, Former Navy Captain Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 11, at Arlington National Cemetary with full military honors for Capt. Leonard Kaplan, USN (Ret), 82, of Watchung, who died May 5 at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. Born in Weston, W. Va., he had lived in Watchung for more than 30 years. Capt. Kaplan graduated salutorian from the United States Naval Academy in 1922 and did post graduate work at Annapolis and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he earned an M.S. in naval architecture in 1929. A veteran of World Wars I and II, Capt. Kaplan's 30-year naval career earned him numerous medals and commendations, including two Legions of Merit. He served all over the world specializing in the construction, salvage and repair of naval warships. Following retirement from the Naval Service, Capt. Kaplan was plant engineer for the Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation in Carteret for 14 years. After a second retirement he returned to naval architecture, working for M. Rosenblatt & Son in Manhattan from 1965 to 1980. Surviving are his wife Ethel E. Kaplan; a son Leonard Kaplan II, of the Netherlands; four daughters, Kristina Vanech of Providence, R.I., Elin Kujat of Burke, Va., LTJG Millicent Kaplan, USN of Annapolis, Md., and Vikki Oliphant of Houston, Texas; a sister, Naomi K. Heller of Stamford, Conn., and five grandchildren, Dean, Timothy, and David Vanech, and Emilee and Elliott Kujat. Contributions may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society.

VANECH, Kristina E. (Kaplan) - 59 years, of Providence, Dec. 14, 2006 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Center. She was the beloved wife of William D. Vanech. She was the devoted mother of Dean G.C. Vanech of San Francisco, CA, Timothy G A. Vanech of Canton, and David C.E. Vanech of Providence, Rl. She had two wonderful daughters-in-law, Eunice Ko of San Francisco, and Jennifer Vanech of Canton. She was the loving grandmother of the long-awaited Madeline Bihldorff Vanech and Nathan Dean Vanech of Canton. Tina was born in Watchung, NJ to Ethel Kaplan and the late United States Navy Captain Leonard Kaplan. She obtained a B.A. and M A. at New York University. She later moved to Providence with her husband In 1973. She completed her coursework for a Ph.D. in American civilization at Brown University where she was a teaching assistant from 1975-1980. She devoted her life to her children, grandchildren, friends and those less fortunate. She was an avid reader and a wildlife advocate. In addition her mother, Ethel Kaplan, Tina is survived by her brother Leonard Kaplan II of Clifton Park, NY, and sisters Elin Kuiat of Davldsonvllle, MD, Millicent Kaplan of Watchung, NJ, and Vlkki Oliphant of Alpharetta, GA. Tina will be sorely missed not only by her family and friends, but by those whose life she blessed. Funeral will be held Tuesday at 1 PM in the Manning Chapel on the Main Green at Brown University. Burial will follow in Swan Point Cemetery. Calling hours Monday 4-7 PM in the Monahan Drabble Sherman Funeral Home, 230 Waterman St., Providence. In lieu of flowers, gifts In her memory to American Diabetes Association, 222 Richmond St., Providence, RI 02903 or to RI Community Food Bank, 200 Niantic Ave., Providence, RI 02907 or to Community Preparatory school, 125 Somerset St., Providence. RI 02905 would be appreciated.