| Natalie Kaplan |
 |
| I have thought for most of my life, that it is the idiosyncrasies the quirks that make a person interesting and endearing. This belief was totally confirmed when I met Natalie. She was one of the most loveable and interesting people I have ever met and she definitely had more than her share of quirks and idiosyncrasies. Compound that with incredible energy and a boundless ability to have fun, she swept you along with her like a tornado. |
| I remember vividly the first time I met her. It was at a Swing Club Dance at the Polish American Club in Miami. I was a newbie dancer, too shy and unsure of my abilities to ask anyone to dance. She was wearing a big smile and not much more......... other that some scraps of black material she called a dress. Nan grabbed me and hustled me out to the dance floor and had me laughing, happy and out of breath before the end of the dance.� I wasn't quite sure what hit me! She made sure that the other ladies asked me to Dance, Sue Miller, Ellie, Jan Swenson, Kay March Adorno, Rae Sidoti, Brenda, Sally and Eileen DiLaura just to name a few. Before the end of the evening she was teaching me the Pretzel, you know the move that looks like this (demonstrate the pretzel). I think she taught every rookie she danced with the same move. (Ask for a Show of hands) |
| Oh by the way if couldn;t remember your name she would give you a nickname (for example Twinkle Toes is Jeff Snow) |
| We would frequently travel together to dances around the state. She and I would travel early on Wednesday or Thursday and Bob would join her on Friday. Was that an experience! We would have to use her van because of all her luggage and clothes. Just the boxes for her wigs took up more space than my bag. She had clothes to hang around in, clothes for daytime, clothes to go to dinner in, clothes to dance in, clothes for the pool.and................ clothes for Bob. I first learned about Bob's clothes when Nan & I would share a room until Bob arrived. The first time I shared a room with her, while unpacking, she left a drawer open and there were rather interesting garments in there to say the least. Nan caught me peeking........ "they're for Bob" she said as she closed the drawer. We would dance and dance until our feet and bodies ached and they threw us out of the ballroom, then we would hit Denny's for breakfast. But when Bob showed up, he and Nan would disappear quite early in the evening.............it was Bob's �time . |
| Among her other quirks that made her so endearing other than her love of dancing was her love of sweets and cake. She would stop at the convenience store on the way to the bank and return to the car with a box of Crispy Cream Donuts. She would be quite happy when I would decline to join her in a decadent orgy of sugar....... more for her. She loved the shrimp parmesan from Basilico's in Boynton Beach, all you can eat Buffet's, Bob's Salad with Ginger Dressing. She loved to shop, especially clothes. She could shop all day, I would return exausted before I learned to set predefined time limits before we left. Bob, you know she saved you a ton of money by buying only bargains and sale items. Bob did have to build her a new custom closet to put all the clothes in. |
| You always knew where Natalie stood. She was always willing to advise you on how you should live your life. The advice was mostly wise though sometimes it was not, and every now and then it was something you really didn't want to hear, This at the times, could be a problem. �But in the end you always knew it was well meaning, she just wanted you to be happy. |
| Natalie had so much love, thank you Alan & Robert for sharing your mothers love with us, the dancers. I hope we didn't steal too much of her time away from you. |
| Bob, thank you for sharing Natalie with us. You were never jealous and always trusting of her. Without your tolerance and understanding we would never have known her the way we do and never have shared so many wonderful times together. Thank you for loving her and looking after her so well especially in the last few months. |
| Natalie loved life and enjoyed it to the max, and she wanted us on this occasion to celebrate her life rather than mourn her passing. To remenis about the good times we had together, do dance and drink and eat. So let's do that. Nan....................Save me a dance! |
| My friend Natalie Murial Kaplan died on October 10th, 2005. This page is dedicated to her and her life. The following is the eulogy I delivered at her funeral. Ray |
| Eulogy |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |