Ernest ‘Ernie’ Allan Kaplan, a longtime resident of Rustic Canyon, passed away peacefully in his own home, surrounded by his family, on July 7. He was 72. Born on March 30, 1938 and raised on the south side of Chicago, Kaplan spent his early childhood in military school before moving in fulltime with his father, Charles. Ernie played baseball, basketball and football at Nicholas Senn High School. When not playing sports, he would help at his father’s men’s clothing store where he gained his first taste of style and flair. Ernie attended Miami University of Ohio and graduated from UCLA, where he was an active member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. During the early 1960s he spent a short time in the Army, serving as a medic before returning to Los Angeles to start a career in business. In 1965, Ernie married another UCLA graduate, Judye Maxine Radom. The two started a life together in an apartment on Beverly Glen. Ernie’s natural gifts as a people person eventually led him to form a small commercial real estate company with Robert Gindy, his business partner for over three decades. The two young men went about leasing, managing and eventually procuring real estate properties. In 1975, Ernie and Judye and their young son Andrew moved into the couple’s dream ‘tree’ house. The unique architecture blended recycled materials, tile and ceramic blown on-site, wood and glass for a house truly ahead of its time. Over the years it has been photographed and documented in several magazines and has served as an example of how to build a house among the natural surroundings and environment of the land. In 1976, Jonathan Kaplan was born to complete the family. The house in Rustic Canyon has served as the family’s home for the last 35 years. Ernie’s professional career and civic contributions culminated in his hard work and dedication to the city of Santa Monica and what is now known as the Third Street Promenade. During the early 1980s he served as chairman of the board of the Bayside District, which coordinates and still manages the Promenade. His eight years of service at this position brought both private and public entities together to actively clean up and promote business and lifestyle in what was a strategically placed but neglected part of Santa Monica. His company, Century Commercial Brokerage Company, still holds offices on Second Street, and Ernie still loved to walk the Promenade, greeting and chatting with the people he met. Ernie was a staunch supporter of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and served on the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter. One of his dreams he fulfilled was taking his sons with him to Israel for Israel’s 60th anniversary. He also dedicated his time to speak at local high schools and universities to share his experience as an entrepreneur and in real estate. He was very giving both of his time and his heart. Ernie leaves behind two sons, Andy and Jon, as well as his brother Lee (wife Nora) and sister Terri (husband Ron). Services were held on July 11 at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park.
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