Brian Howard Kaplan

Brian Kaplan was born to his parents Jack and Libby in in the town of Kaplan, Louisiana which was named after his family. After attending Kaplan public schools he enrolled at LSU where he received a BS in Kinesiology. At LSU he played on the tennis team and was president of the ZBT fraternity. He and his brother Connie were high school basketball referees during their college years and were known as the James Brothers.

After graduation from the LSU ROTC program, Brian was commissioned as second Lieutenant at Fort Benning, GA where he completed basic officer’s training and spent six months as Platoon Leader of the First Division located at North Fort Benning. Following his service he returned to LSU to complete his Masters in Education.

Brian eventually moved to New Orleans and began teaching at Behrman High School and then became the athletic director at the Jewish Community Center where he met Jill, the love of his life to whom he was married for 60 years.

Following his time at the JCC Brian entered the insurance business where he managed the New Orleans office of Home Life Insurance and was a member of the Million Dollar Round Table and the Top 20 among other honors. Following the passing of his father, Brian took over the management of Liberty Rice Mill in Kaplan commuting regularly from New Orleans until its closing.

Brian was active in the community serving on the Board of the JCC and was President of the Make A Wish Foundation in LA. He was a regular and competitive tennis player at Audubon Park Tennis Club for which he served in many managerial and organizational roles. He was also a member of New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club. He was instrumental in restoring the tennis courts at Audubon Park after Hurricane Katrina destroyed them and in reviving the Audubon Park Tennis Club for which he was honored by the City of New Orleans.

Brian was the consummate gentleman, well known for his charm and sweet demeanor. He was a very proud parent and even prouder grandpa. He loved coaching youth sports and reading the Cajun Night Before Christmas to elementary students at Isidore Newman School. Brian was a lifelong supporter of LSU - once a Tiger, always a Tiger. He was a New Orleans Jazz and Saints season ticket holder in the 1970’s and always up for a good session watching and debating sporting events. Brian was also a frequent traveler, crisscrossing the globe with Jill and taking family trips when his boys were younger.

A true pet lover, Brian was referred to as the doting Uncle Brian by the dozens of dogs and several cats that he took care of in addition to the many pets that he had during his lifetime.

Any charitable donations in his memory can be made to Animal Rescue of New Orleans (ARNO).

Brian is survived by his wife Jill, their three sons Michael (Matthew), Jack (Margot), David (Jackie) and adoptive son David Johnson (Jen) as well as his grandchildren Conrad, Zach, Veronica, Henry and Trevor.