Harold C. Kaplan

Born in Stapleton, he had fond memories of the neighborhood where he grew up and where his father, Philip, had a demolition and then a plumbing business, Stapleton Plumbing Supply. Diverted from a planned law career into the family business, he also opened a branch of ABCO Refrigeration and ran the two businesses side by side, but when the refrigeration business took off, he closed the plumbing company and incorporated ABCO Refrigeration Supply of Staten Island in 1964 at the same location, Bay and Clinton streets.

Today the business, a wholesale supplier of commercial and light industrial refrigeration, heating and air conditioning equipment, has branches throughout the city and the Northeastern seaboard. Mr. Kaplan headed the Island location until a few years ago, when he retired from daily involvement.

When he was honored by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce with the Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award in 2000, Mr. Kaplan listed his goals in life: "To be as loving as I can and be as productive as I can in my life; to be a good person and give as much as I can to the community, to make it a better place for all to live in."

He was a charter member and past president of the North Shore Kiwanis Club and a member of the North Central Kiwanis Club; member of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, which he had served as past secretary and executive board member; the Staten Island YMCA, which he served as board chair and member; Staten Island Electrical League and the Stapleton Homeport Business Association.

He had served on the board of directors of Snug Harbor Cultural Center and the Business Education Development Council; was a past board chairman of Camelot of Staten Island; served on the board of visitors of Staten Island Developmental Center; and was a board member and vice chair of the executive board of the American Cancer Society, a past vice president of the Staten Island Artificial Kidney Foundation; a member of the American Red Cross, and the Staten Island Friends for Hospice Care.

He moved to St. George in 1946 when he and Ellen Quinn wed, and the couple later moved to Silver Lake. He settled in Grymes Hill in 1992.

Mr. Kaplan enjoyed summer vacations in Lake Hopatcong, N.J., and winter vacations in Florida.

He also loved traveling and playing golf. He enjoyed watching baseball and football games and was a New York Yankees and football Jets fan.

"Everyone loved him," said his wife, the former Phyllis Boelger Mangini. "He was kind, giving, friendly and sociable. He had a good sense of humor and was a joy to be with. He was just an all-around, likable good guy and we had 48 wonderful years together."

Mr. Kaplan was a member of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, West Brighton.

His first wife, Ellen, died in 1961.

Surviving, along with Phyllis, his wife of 48 years, are his daughters, Noreen Lucey, Barbara Kaplan and Patricia Zak; his sons, Michael and Douglas Mangini; nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

The funeral service will be Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners. Burial will follow in Baron Hirsch Cemetery, Graniteville.