It was an honor to have known you, Mr. Kaplan! One of my favorite NYC memories was getting to see you perform stand-up comedy at a club in the Village in the early 2010's. Your jokes were hilarious (mostly about old people and "whoopee", of course), but it's your delivery that I'll never forget. The expectant smile and radiant joy on your face after the telling of each joke was priceless. If someone could bottle that feeling, they could go a long way towards healing the world (and making a fortune in the meantime) And thanks so much for including me on your email jokes list. You were truly a "stand-up" guy -- in every sense of the word -- and we all miss you dearly!

My favorite memory of cousin Bob is when, at family gatherings, he and cousin Arnold would play what I think of as "Toastmaster's tag." One of them would tell a joke. Then the other would have to tell a joke that kicked off from the punchline of the other fellow's joke, and it went back and forth until one of them couldn't think of an appropriate joke. Sometimes it went on for quite a while! They were a joy to see together.

Being a friend of lovely Frimette and her lovely daughter Arielle from BJ services, I had the pleasure of meeting her wonderful husband Bob and other lovely daughter Nicole many times at services and outside social activities even seeing Bob a few months back in his neighborhood when I came to visit. Bob was always very warm and welcoming and just a wonderful down to earth person. I always enjoyed talking to him and hearing Frimette speak of him all the time. May his memory be a blessing. My sincere condolences to the family. Fran Collins

I will always remember fondly my visit out to Fire Island and Mr. Kaplan was the consummate host. Gracious, personable and the best tan outside of Florida, perhaps his most memorable quality was his sense of humor. He'd always surprise me by how far he could go to get a laugh. I know he will be missed by his many friends and family.

Bob was a wonderful person. He was kind and gentle and very loyal. He and my husband Herb knew each other for decades - since they were teenagers - or, maybe even earlier. But, certainly by junior high school they were good friends. By any standard that is a long relationship. When you’re a friend of Bobby Kaplan you definitely have many opportunities to laugh - and that is so nice.

Bob-Bob-Bob you always had a way to make my kids laugh! You were such a joy to be with. Such a wonderful sense of humor and that beautiful smile! Your love and your light live on in your family. You are missed so much.

My friendship with Bob and Frimette began at a dinner atop the Hilton hotel in Athens Greece. I was a men's wear retailer in Indianapolis, Indiana and Bob was a reporter for the Men's Wear Daily a trade paper for the industry. We were both on a 3 country European fashion trip sponsored by Petrocelli a men's clothing manufacturer.
I had noticed the Kaplans on the flight over as they were the only other young people on the plane. Bob was wearing tinted glasses and a dark shirt and I assumed they were either Hollywood celebrities or New York fashion models. At dinner I found them both to be friendly and a couple that I remained friends with for over 50 years. Bob later became the director of the men's clothing manufacturers association and we always reunited at clothing shows around the country. I fondly remember being in Las Vegas with Bob and his dad, who also had been in the industry as a salesman. His dad who was a regular visitor to Las Vegas insisted that he teach me how to win at the crap table. And indeed one night we both walked away with substantial winnings. Bob never played and only watched and cheered us on. We all had a wonderful dinner at the Dunes on the house that night. I invited Bob and Frimette to Indianapolis for the 500 mile race. They both thought that living in Indiana meant living on a farm as I teased them into thinking it was true. They came with Nicole and we all had a great time. They even returned to Indy for my daughter's wedding. 
Although we did not see each other often we remained close friends and I will miss him and his wonderful sense of humor. 
Dick Bartick

My favorite memory of Mr. Kaplan is when I woke up on the sun-soaked screened-in porch of the house in Ocean Beach, FI, from the ages of about 13 - 16 to him sipping a coffee and startled that I was even there. A few hours later coming back out there to gently wake me up by saying, “the girls are up.”
I’m pretty sure he just wanted me off his porch so he could sit there, but I had slept until 10 am and ruined his whole morning. Even with that, he was forever kind, always had a huge smile, and greeted me warmly every time I saw him.  ♡

There are not many friend’s dads I can say I had the honour of getting to know – but Mr Kaplan was one of them. I am so fortunate to have had some quality 1-1 time with him. He was so generous to give me a job at the Clothing Manufacturer’s Association where we worked together, to all the family get togethers and one time the two of us had a movie date! We saw “He’s Just Not That Into You”. How many people can say they saw that movie with their friend’s dad! Haha. We were standing in the freezing cold for over an hour and he has a way of just talking, asking questions and making you laugh constantly so you don’t think about how cold you are. I will miss his him, the funny stories Nicole would share, the clippings he would send me and of course, his jokes.

The Best Boss!

The Clothing Manufacturers is when I first met my protege. I walked into his office and there he sat smiling at me, he told me to sit for my interview. I said "Hello my name is Tanya nice to meet you". He extended his hand and said "My name is Bob nice to meet you, you're hired". From that day he became my inspiration, my role model, my comedian, my friend and most importantly filled the role of my Dad, as my father was unavailable. I lost the most important person in my life. I now have another Angel watching over me. "Hey Mr. Kaplan when you reach that beautiful place, please tell my Dad how you did a great Job with me. There is so many memories, and for selfish reasons I wanted you here with us. I'm going to Miss you Mr. Kaplan.