Riena Kaplow

In Memory of Riena Kaplow
September 30, 1926 - February 15, 2018

Riena Kaplow was born on September 30, 1926 in Waterbury, Connecticut to Louis and Ida Leopold. She spent much of her childhood living with her grandparents on their farm. As a child she lived through the great depression. When WWII broke out, she was too young to enlist so she joined the U. S. Cadet Nurse Corps and became an RN, but the war ended before she could serve. She went to Israel as a volunteer nurse in 1948 in Israel's war of Independence. She also lived in Paris and Seattle, where she was part of ground breaking research in the Public Health Service. When she worked as an operating room nurse Miami, she met Milton Kaplow. They were married in 1956 and lived in Englewood, New Jersey and Elmsford, New York, before moving to White Plains, New York in 1964. Together they raised four children. Milton worked as a research scientist for General Foods. He retired in 1988 and died from cancer in 1989.
Riena loved being involved in politics and specifically local politics. She helped local candidates with her knowledge of how to run a campaign. She has always been on a first name basis with the mayor of White Plains, and many other local, state and national politicians. Riena was instrumental in getting the long-abandoned railroad right-of-way behind her house permanently preserved as a city park known as the Greenway. She has been active in her temple, Congregation Kol Ami, since she first moved to White Plains in 1964.
Riena passed away peacefully on February 15th after a courageous battle with heart disease. She is predeceased by her husband, Milton Kaplow. Riena is survived by her son Jonathan Kaplow (Josie Kaplow); her daughter Sara Kaplow (Christopher Spanabel); her daughter Edith Alfenas; and her daughter Stella Lee (Jack Lee). She is also survived by her six grandchildren: Grace Kaplow; Maya Spanabel; Sonia and Jacqueline Alfenas; and Madisen and Koby Lee.
Funeral services were held at Congregation Kol Ami located at 252 Soundview Ave., White Plains, NY 10606.
In lieu of flowers, you may choose to make a donation in memory of Riena Kaplow to Kol Ami, the White Plains League of Women Voters or the White Plains Historical Society.