Naples, FL - Age 89, of Naples, FL, and Edina, MN, passed away on January 14, 2026. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Eloise Stillman Kaplan; parents, Gertrude and Nathan Kaplan; grandson Alex; and his first wife, Sheila Kaplan. He is survived by his children, Jane (David) Kirshbaum, Cindy Kaplan (Dr. Marc Weisskopf), Peter (Jessica) Kaplan, Jed (Debbie) Stillman, and Scott Stillman; grandchildren, Abby (Jeremiah), Zoe, Noah (Stephanie), Mira, Micah, Daryn, Asher, Sophie (Josh), Sam, Grace "Gigi," Max (Meghna), and Ezra; brother, Howard (Diane) Kaplan; brother-in-law, Bill Schmitzer; sister-in-law, Pennie Shapiro; and nieces and nephews, Josh (Jenny Roosa) Kaplan, Seth (Rory) Kaplan, David (Marci) Kaplan, Beth Shapiro (Scott Boscapomi), and Dan (Nikki) Shapiro. Elliot was a devoted husband and the patriarch of a blended and inclusive family. There was nothing more important to him than family. His pride in and love for his children and grandchildren were abundant, unmistakable, and ever-present. He delighted in being a father and grandfather, and his joy in them was one of the great constants of his life. Though widely respected for his intellect and professional seriousness, Elliot was also deeply silly. He loved to skip through parking lots, tell spontaneous jokes, and do anything that might make those around him laugh—moments that reflected his generous spirit and joy. Elliot was an accomplished attorney and named partner at Robins, Kaplan LLP, where he practiced law for more than six decades, served as Chairman of the firm for many years, and appeared before the FTC, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Despite his professional accomplishments, Elliot viewed the law, not as a means to prestige, but as a safeguard of justice and fairness for all. Deeply committed to education, Elliot was a proud graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and remained devoted to the institution throughout his life. He led major capital campaigns, served in numerous alumni leadership roles, and was Chair of the University of Minnesota Foundation Board. In recognition of his decades of service, he was awarded the University of Minnesota Regents Award in 2018. With his beloved wife, Eloise, he established a law school scholarship to support students from underrepresented backgrounds, believing strongly that the legal profession should reflect the diversity of the communities it serves and that access to justice must remain open to all. Elliot was profoundly dedicated to his community and held a deep and abiding love for Judaism. He served on the Board of Trustees of Temple Israel, including as Board President, and led many capital campaigns, including those for Temple Israel and Minnesota Hillel. A strong believer in civic engagement, he frequently opened his home to politicians and community leaders, fostering thoughtful dialogue, connection, and participation in public life. He also served on the boards of major corporations and numerous civic, cultural, and religious organizations. Elliot had a lifelong appreciation for art and culture and cared deeply about equality, ethics, and justice. These values—family, faith, service, joy, and fairness—guided how he lived and continue to inspire those who knew him. Funeral service 1:30 PM on Sunday, January 18th at Temple Israel, 2323 Fremont Ave S, Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Temple Israel of Minneapolis or University of Minnesota Hillel. Shiva 6:00 PM on Sunday at Temple Israel and 7:00 PM on Monday at Elliot's residence. Funeral service and first night of shiva will be on zoom: www.hodroffs.com/ElliotKaplan

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