Anita “Nicky” Fox Kaplan, 89, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 3, in Orlando, FL, after a brief respiratory illness. She was surrounded by her loving family.
Born and raised in Albany, Nicky received her bachelor’s degree from Albany State Teacher’s College and her Master’s Degree in English Literature at C.W. Post on Long Island. Nicky was the daughter of the late Albert and Frieda Fox. A former English teacher at Mattlin Middle School in Plainview, Nicky retired in 1987 after more than 30 years of passionate teaching.
Her volunteer work included Fight For Sight, driving the elderly, and being an active member of her synagogue. She was the longtime author of “Life in the Slow Lane,” a column in the Palm Chase Reader in her Boynton Beach community, in which she detailed her life and thoughts through her humorous perspective. In 1989, a piece about her late mother earned her publication in the Miami Herald. Her students endearingly gave her the nickname “Killer Kaplan” while remembering her clever use of mnemonics in teaching grammar.
She was predeceased by her loving husband, James Kaplan, and her older brothers; Marvin Fox and William Fox. Nicky is survived by her children, Jeffrey Kaplan (Renée Maiman) of Orlando, FL, Gary Kaplan (Wendy Shocket) of Lattingtown and Paula Kaplan-Reiss (Richard Reiss) of East Brunswick, NJ. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Judith Kaplan-Nersesian (Lennon Nersesian) of White Plains, Rachel Kaplan of Accord, Lauren Kaplan of Orlando, FL, Gabriel Reiss of Conyers, GA, and Ethan and Elijah Reiss of East Brunswick, NJ. Additionally, she is survived by her younger brother, Jerome Fox (Barbara Krips) of Boynton Beach, FL, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She will be eternally missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to autismsciencefoundation.org.
