Ernest Kaplan

Ernest Allan "Ernie" KAPLANLKAPLAN, Ernest "Ernie" Allan March 30, 1938 - July 7, 2010 Ernie was born and raised in Chicago. He spent his early childhood in military school before moving in with his father Charles "Chucky" Kaplan full time. Ernie played baseball, basketball and football and was a Gentry, the high school club for athletes, at Nicholas Senn High School. When not playing sports, Ernie would help at his father's men's clothing store where he would get his first taste of style and flair. Ernie attended Miami of Ohio and graduated from UCLA where he was an active member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. During the early 1960s he spent a short time in the Army where he served as a medic before returning to the family in Los Angeles to start a career in business. In 1965, Ernie married another UCLA graduate, Judy Radom. The two started a life together in an apartment on Beverly Glen. Ernie's natural gifts as a people's person eventually led him to form a small commercial real estate company with his business partner for over three decades, Robert Gindy. The two young men went about leasing, managing and eventually procuring real estate properties. In 1975, Ernie and Jud...[more]

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nd their young son Andrew Kaplan moved into the couple's dream "tree" house. The unique architecture blended recycled materials, tile and ceramic blown on-site, wood and glass for a house truly ahead of its time. Over the years it has been photographed and documented in different magazines and has served as an example of how to build a house to the natural surroundings and environment of the land. In 1976, Jonathan Kaplan was born to complete the family. The house in Rustic Canyon has served as the family's home for the last 35 years. Ernie's professional career and civic contributions culminated in his hard work and dedication to the city of Santa Monica and what is now known as the The Third Street Promenade. During the early 1980s he served as Chairman of the Board of the Bayside District, which coordinates and still manages the Third Street Promenade. His service of eight consecutive years at this position brought both private and public entities together to actively clean up and promote business and lifestyle in what was a strategically placed but neglected part of Santa Monica. His company, Century Commercial Brokerage Company, still holds offices on 2nd Street and he still loved to walk the Promenade, greeting and chatting with the people he met. Ernie was a staunch supporter of the FIDF - Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and served on the Los Angeles Chapter Board of Directors. One of his dreams he fulfilled was taking his sons with him to Israel for Israel's 60 Year Anniversary. Ernie also dedicated his time to speak at local high schools and universities to share his experience as an entrepreneur and in real estate. He was very giving both of his time and his heart. Ernie Kaplan passed away peacefully in his own home surrounded by his family. He leaves behind two sons, Andy and Jon as well as his brother Lee and his wife Nora and sister Terri and her husband Ron. Services will be held Sunday at noon at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, 5950 Forest Lawn Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90068-1099; (323) 469-6000