SY KAPLAN –
Author of “WWII Remembered”
After serving two years of active duty in
the Army, Sy Kaplan joined the 77th Infantry
Division as a reservist. Twenty-eight years later,
he retired in 1985 with the rank of Colonel.
He has been a stamp collector since his teens,
concentrating on World War II First Day and
Patriotic Covers, which highlight the events
of that period. It is his hope that his book,
“World War II Remembered,” will make all
Americans of present and future generations
appreciate and 'never forget' how the U.S.
military, through their sacrifices and accom-plishments,
saved the world from tyranny.
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
I was born in Manhattan and grew up in
the Bronx. I graduated from DeWitt Clinton
H.S. then went to City College and earned a
BBA degree. My civilian career was in hospital
administration. While attending CCNY I joined
the ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps).
On active duty I began as a second lieutenant
at Fort Benning, Georgia. This prepared me for
being stationed for two years at the DMZ. This
was the border separating North and South
Korea. I was a counter fire platoon leader with
the 31st Infantry Regiment at Camp Casey.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR FAMILY?
Harriet and I married in 1967. We lived in
Rego Park at first and then bought a home in
Sy (left) and his brother, Chief Warrant Officer Bernard Kaplan
Fresh Meadows where we stayed for 47 years
before moving to NST in 2017. Our daughter,
Lenore, lives in Manhattan where she works
in the Human Resources department at a large
law firm.
My sister, Florence, moved to NST a few
months ago with her husband,
Lou Siegel. Their son, Rabbi
David Siegel, is the Executive
Director of Hofstra Hillel and
also Chaplain of the Hofstra
Interfaith Center.
My brother, Bernard
Kaplan, had a career as a
NYC police officer while he
was a U.S. Army reservist.
He retired as a Chief Warrant
Officer 4. During his term
of service as a reservist, he
served in Saudi Arabia and
Kuwait during Operation
Desert Shield and Desert
Storm.
It was my brother-in-law,
Lou Siegel, who suggested
that I put my collection into
book form. As a retired teach-er,
he was able to visualize the
educational possibilities of
my stamp collection, which
consisted of First Day and
Patriotic Covers. I could
not have done it without
his expertise in scanning and laying out the
volume. He also created a free website, where
anyone with a computer can access the book.
WHERE CAN I SEE A COPY?
I've donated a copy to the NST Library and
you can read it there. Also, on Veterans' Day,
November 11th, those residents who attend the
Salute to Veterans in the Towers on the Green
will get a four-page excerpt of “World War II
Remembered.” I hope to see many veterans
there.
For more details about this year’s Salute
to Veterans at NST, please see the flyer on the
next page. All veterans and their relatives are
welcome. ~ Editor
A couple examples from Sy’s collection of WWII First Day stamps
Sy enjoys the view from his balcony at NST
4 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ November 2021