Stuart M. Kaplan, 63, who developed many prominent real estate projects in Chicago, died Monday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Born and raised in Chicago, Mr. Kaplan graduated from Sullivan High School, attended Drake University in Iowa and graduated from Northwestern University. He began his career in the mailroom of Arthur Rubloff Co. He became senior vice president for retail development at Rubloff, a position he held until 1976. He then went into business for himself, developing and rehabilitating many properties in Chicago. In 1990 he helped found GBK Equity Partners, which provides venture capital for area homebuilders. He is survived by his wife, Myrna; a son, Benjamin; a daughter, Meredith; his mother, Kate, and a sister, Sandra Oriel. Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Weinstein Funeral Directors Ltd., 111 N. Skokie Blvd., Wilmette.
