Board of Trustees member Harold Kaplan passes away
Harold Kaplan, a member of the college’s Board of Trustees, passed away Aug. 17, 2024, at the age of 88. A memorial service was held on Aug. 21 in Orlando, Florida.
Kaplan joined the Lees-McRae Board of Trustees in 2019. He served a four-year term and was elected to a second term in 2023. During his time on the board, he along with his fellow board members supported the college through the COVID-19 pandemic. He served on both the Financial Affairs and Budget Committee and the Buildings and Grounds Committee during the purchase of Grandfather Home for Children and the renovation of the Historic Commons. His inspirational belief in the college’s capacity to continually improve was reflected in his staunch dedication to the renovation and other projects undertaken by the institution.
“Lees-McRae has greatly benefited from Harold’s leadership and passion for supporting his community,” President Lee King said. “He respected Lees-McRae and was proud of our significant progress in the last few years. We will miss his wisdom on the board.”
Kaplan graduated from Rutgers University in 1957 and worked in accounting and banking before founding direct lending company United Financial Group, Inc. in 1981. After retiring as the CEO, Kaplan passed management of the company to his son Andrew while remaining Chairman of the Board.
Kaplan and his wife Rosalind split their time between Orlando, Florida, and Beech Mountain, North Carolina. In both locations, Kaplan was active in his community, serving as a board member of FORUM at Lees-McRae College, a board member and treasurer of Beech Mountain Club Men’s Golf Association, treasurer of the Orlando Jewish Federation, and a board member of the Appalachian State University Community Advisory Board of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Peace Studies.
Kaplan also served on the first Rutgers Alumni Association Board and received the Rutgers Scarlett Oak Meritorious Service Award for Excellence in Alumni Leadership in 2013. As the vice president and chairman of the Rutgers Class of 1957, he led fundraising initiatives on behalf of the Rutgers golf teams, including the purchase of a sprinter van in 2018 and the construction of a state-of-the-art practice facility in 2020.
Kaplan is survived by his wife Rosalind, his children, 13 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
